Instability and upheaval on and off the field have played a significant role, with owner Vincent Tan going through 16 managers in his 15 years at Cardiff.
Wales captain Aaron Ramsey is the latest to take charge, given the reins on a temporary basis last Saturday after Omer Riza was sacked.
Ramsey, who is still registered as a Cardiff player, but currently injured, was given a hero’s welcome for his first game in the dugout against Oxford.
That was in stark contrast to the protests outside Cardiff City Stadium before kick-off, with fans calling for Tan and the rest of the board to leave the club.
Tan has overseen a tempestuous era in the Welsh capital, causing deep divisions with his 2012 rebrand of Cardiff’s colours from its traditional blue to red. Despite a fierce backlash, it was not until 2015 that he reversed that decision.
Some successful periods – most notably promotion to the Premier League in 2018 – helped heal some of the old wounds, but there remains a disconnect between the club and its fans.
On Saturday, Cardiff host West Bromwich Albion knowing that, realistically, they must win to have any hope of staying in the Championship.
However, even two wins from their final two fixtures might not be enough to secure their survival.
“It is a difficult position we are in, there’s no shying away from that,” says Ramsey.
“For me, I’m enjoying it. The people I’ve brought in are enjoying it and have brought that bit of freshness and everyone is buying into it. It’s all about getting the players into the best possible place for the game on Saturday.
“There are a lot of things that can happen until the end of the season, a lot of football to be played.”
Leave a Reply