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Thursday 18 September 2014

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer parts company with Cardiff City




Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has stepped down after less than nine months in charge.

The announcement was made after Solskjaer, 41, held talks with chairman Mehmet Dalman.

The Bluebirds are 17th in the Championship after three losses in seven games, including Tuesday's 1-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough and a 4-2 capitulation against Norwich.

Veteran defender Danny Gabbidon and Scott Young are in temporary charge.

Solskjaer succeeded Malky Mackay on 2 January, 2014.

In a statement Dalman said: "Due to a difference in philosophy of approach to the game, we have decided to part company amicably."

Owner Vincent Tan said: "Ole was hired by Cardiff City on our understanding and belief that he would help us fight relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

"Unfortunately that did not happen. After the club was relegated many people advised me to let him go, but I decided to keep Ole on for the Championship season.

"Regrettably our recent results do not justify Ole's continued role as manager at Cardiff.

"Ole has therefore decided to step down and I have accepted this.

"During my short association with Ole, I have found him to be an honest and hardworking professional, but unfortunately the football results were not in his favour."
Solskjaer said: "I want to thank Vincent for giving me the opportunity to manage Cardiff City FC.

"He has my full respect and I really wish him all the best in his pursuit of making this football club successful.

"However, our difference in philosophy on how to manage the club made me decide to step aside and allow the club to move forward in the direction Vincent wants."

Before the announcement was made, BBC Scotland reported that Dundee boss Paul Hartley had rejected the possibility of succeeding Solskjaer.

The former Manchester United striker failed to save City from Premier League relegation.

After the latest defeat, the Norwegian said he accepted the blame for the club's poor run of form.

"I'm responsible and I should get better results than what we've had in the first seven games," said Solskjaer.

His team were booed off the pitch at half time and at the end of the game against Middlesbrough.

However, former Bluebirds captain Jason Perry told BBC Radio Wales that the board and owner Vincent Tan had to take some responsibility.

"It was the wrong appointment for Cardiff and the wrong club for Solskjaer," said Perry ahead of the Norwegian's departure.

He feels Solskjaer's attacking style did not follow on from Mackay's defensive policy.

Perry also said Solskjaer had changed his team too often and failed to establish a playing style.

"Do we know how Cardiff City play? No," he added.

"I think only four players played against Blackburn that played against Middlesbrough. He [Solskjaer] picked a different back four yet again.

"If you're manager or a coach you have a central strategy and you work on that.

"But he's still [been] trying to find his first 11 and you can't do it, it doesn't work.

"The table tells you that, the results tell you that and unfortunately Cardiff thought he was the right man for the job and I want to know why."






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