Cardiff City to hold board meeting in wake of speculation around future of manager Malky Mackay

Earlier this week Iain Moody was removed as head of recruitment and replaced with a 23-year-old

Vincent Tan and Malky Mackay (GETTY IMAGES)

Cardiff are due to hold a board meeting on Monday in the wake of the removal of Iain Moody as head of recruitment, Press Association Sport understands.

The meeting is believed to have been scheduled prior to Moody being suspended and subsequently placed on gardening leave, but that topic is certain to be on the agenda as he was one of manager Malky Mackay's most-trusted lieutenants.

Chief executive Simon Lim is expected to attend, but it is understood owner Vincent Tan will not be present.

The loss of Moody has placed Mackay's position under scrutiny but Press Association Sport understands the Scot has no intention of resigning, and the club have denied reports Mackay was asked to leave his post.

Cardiff's Malaysian owner Tan has handed Moody's duties on an acting basis to 23-year-old Kazakhstani Alisher Apsalyamov.

Apsalyamov is thought to be a friend of Tan's son and appears to have no previous experience in football.

He joined the club in February but his name does not appear on a list of key staff members on the club's official website.

Tan previously caused consternation among Bluebirds' fans by changing the club's playing kit from blue to red and heavily altering their crest in 2012.

The club have yet to comment on the reasons for Moody's removal, although it is believed Tan felt the club had overspent during the summer transfer window.

The Cardiff City Supporters' Trust has expressed its concern the club could lose their highly-rated and popular Scottish boss.

Chairman Tim Hartley said: "Fans will be concerned with the recent behind-the-scenes developments at Cardiff City which appear to put into question the future of our manager, Malky Mackay.

"Supporters are surprised that someone who appears to have little hands-on experience has been put in charge of transfers at the football club.

"Fans want Malky Mackay, who has done a fantastic job as manager taking the club to the Premier League, to remain at Cardiff City.

"We don't want to see any action taken to undermine his position as manager and Cardiff City's efforts to have a successful first season in the top division."

PA