Judge Cardiff on transfers in January, says boss

After not winning any of their first seven Championship games, Cardiff have won three of their last five [Getty Images] Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy says he is happy for Cardiff City to be judged on transfers after the January window. The Bluebirds made just four new signings in the summer following last season's promotion from League One, leading to heavy criticism from fans. Jack Moylan and Krystian Bielik arrived from Lincoln and West Bromich Albion, while goalkeeper Nathan Trott's loan from Copenhagen was made permanent. Full-back Calum Scanlon also returned on loan from Liverpool for a second spell. Despite facing a number of injuries to key players in defensive positions, Barry-Murphy says he has no regrets about their summer business. "I think there was a lot of comment at the end of August that we were short on numbers," said the 48-year-old coach. "I still don't regret the fact that we didn't bring the players in that we didn't want. "I think it was very important that we didn't just stockpile players for the sake of it," Salech hails Moylan partnership for Cardiff Cardiff's Aberfan inspiration after emotional tribute Barry-Murphy, who took over the reins in summer 2025 before winning promotion to the Championship in his first season in charge, admitted his squad has been short of numbers and is working on improving the situation with head of recruitment Patrick Deboys. "We have to accept that we have been short over the course of the season. "The work that's been done behind the scenes has really impressed me. "There's been much talk about our football department and how it's structured, but Patrick has led that department brilliantly. "I think I'm happy for us to be judged in that department by the end of January, I think it'll be very positive for us." At the time the summer window closed, Barry-Murphy said he felt he had nothing but backing from owner Vincent Tan. But before Saturday's Championship game at Wolves, the Irishman admitted they need to be flexible when the market reopens in the new year. "Whenever we identify whatever targets we do, they're always with an area of flexibility," he added. "Permanent signings or loan signings, we have to be ready for both because we can't presume that our owner or our supporters are going to fund massive transfer fees. "So we're ready for all eventualities and the players that we hope to bring to the club in January, I think will excite the supporters." Tan's 'straightforward approach' Vincent Tan has been Cardiff City owner since May 2010 [Huw Evans Picture Agency] More than 1,000 days have passed since owner Vincent Tan last attended a Cardiff City game, but the club continue to lean on his financial backing and much of their January plans will surely be reliant on his spending power. Although he has not been seen in the Welsh capital for nearly three years, the Malaysian businessman continues to have regular contact with his head coach who is full of praise for the owner's straightforward approach. "I like his mentality," said Barry-Murphy. "I think what I saw from him in the summer and what I've seen from him pretty much every day since I've come to the club is when you do well, you can do better. "And when you don't do well, you have to do better. "It's a very straightforward way of working and I think he leaves very little open to interpretation." Barry-Murphy spent four weeks in Malaysia with Tan and his family during the close season, an experience he says offered a valuable insight into the Cardiff owner and his ambitions for the club. "You're always very clear on what he expects and what we have to deliver so it's fine. "I think it's very healthy, I think the complications are going to arise when you're not really clear on what you have to do. "I agree with and I like his mindset of when you do well you always have to try and do better because I think it keeps you very hungry. "The human tendency can be sometimes to relax when you think you're doing well and we haven't done that well this season so as you can imagine we're very agitated and want to do better." Latest Cardiff City news, analysis and fan views