Aaron Ramsey unable to save Cardiff City from Championship relegation

Cardiff City will be playing in the third tier for the first time in 22 years after the Bluebirds were relegated from the Championship following a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion.

The stalemate at home against West Brom, coupled with Luton's 1-0 win over Coventry and Derby's win over Hull means Cardiff's six-year stay in the Championship has come to an end.

The Welsh outfit made the decision last week to sack manager Omer Riza and appoint club legend Aaron Ramsey on an interim basis.

However, the former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder was unable to spare his boyhood club from relegation after failing to win either of his first two matches in charge.

While Ramsey will no doubt despair, the damage was done long before his introduction as head coach.

Erol Bulut's disastrous start saw Cardiff lose five of their opening six matches before the former Fenerbahçe manager was sacked.

Omer Riza steadied the ship during his caretaker spell, winning four of his first eight matches in charge, but results were already on the decline when the club made the intriguing decision to appoint Bulut's assistant coach on a permanent basis until the end of the season.

An unbeaten January signaled hope of progress but Cardiff's inability to convert winning positions into three points were a major factor in their demise; the Bluebirds had relinquished an astonishing 24 points from winning positions over the course of the season.

Another telling statistic is their lack of wins.

No team has won fewer matches than Cardiff's nine league victories this campaign, and only three of their successes this season have been by more than a one-goal margin.

While supporters contend with the ignominy of relegation to League One, Cardiff's demotion raises significant questions concerning the ownership club.

Despite his finances lifting the club to the Premier League on two occasions, the trajectory of Cardiff has been a steady decline under the ownership of Vincent Tan.

The Malaysian businessman was reportedly willing to sell the club in previous years and it will be intriguing to see whether Tan sticks or twists, although Cardiff's value will have plummeted in light of relegation.

Jaquob Crooke

• Championship
• • 
  •