By Paul Jones
Neil Harris was sacked as Cardiff City manager this afternoon after owner Vincent Tan claimed the horror run of six straight defeats had left him with “no choice”.
The Malaysian tycoon ended Harris’s 14-month spell in charge with the final straw being Wednesday night’s 1-0 home defeat by QPR.
Harris guided Cardiff to last season’s Championship play-offs but his team have woefully underachieved so far this term and are 15th in the second tier.
Cardiff assistant David Livermore has also left with Harris with immediate effect.
Tan said: “I’d like to thank Neil and David sincerely for their hard work at Cardiff City.
“Their efforts to propel us towards a fifth-place finish and play-off position last year are recognised and appreciated, although sadly we are in a result-orientated business and our on-field results of late and progress this season has been very poor. As such, we have had no choice but to relieve them of their duties in an effort to improve results and league position with a change of manager.
“I’d like to personally wish Neil and David the very best with their future undertakings and endeavours. They will always be welcome faces at Cardiff City Stadium and I wish them good luck.”
Harris succeeded Neil Warnock – who took Cardiff into the Premier League – as boss in November 2019. The team are currently on their worst losing run since 2018 forcing Tan to act.
Tan had given Harris the chance to add to his squad in the current transfer window with Perry Ng and Max Watters joining the club this month, but results did not improve.
Cardiff said in a statement: “The board of directors would like to thank Neil and David for their efforts during their time with the Bluebirds and wish them every success for the future.
“A new permanent manager and assistant will be announced in due course.”
Harris, the former Millwall manager, succeeded Neil Warnock 14 months ago with Cardiff 14th in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League.
The 43-year-old oversaw a revival for Cardiff to make the top six, but their hopes of returning to the top flight were dashed by a play-off semi-final defeat to Fulham.
Wales pair Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore were recruited in the summer transfer window and optimism of a promotion challenge in the Welsh capital was high.
Harris was left in no doubt as to what the club’s ambitions were when chairman Mehmet Dalman said in October that he would be “disappointed” if Cardiff were not in the top six by January.
Cardiff were three points off the play-off places after beating Birmingham in mid-December.
But six successive defeats – five in the league and an FA Cup exit at Nottingham Forest – ended Harris’ reign, with the final straw proving to be Wednesday’s 1-0 home defeat to QPR.
Harris’ departure leaves Tan looking to appoint an eighth manager in his 11 years at Cardiff.
