Cardiff owner pledges cash for transfers

The Cardiff City chairman, Dato Chan Tien Ghee, has said that the manager Malky Mackay will be given whatever funds are necessary for the club to mount a serious promotion challenge, following their Carling Cup heroics.

Mackay's team booked their place in the Wembley final on 26 February after a semi-final penalty shoot-out against Crystal Palace. The Bluebirds are third in the Championship, a point behind Southampton. In a rare interview, the Malaysian investor, known as TG, said Mackay had a war-chest available to strengthen his squad.

"Malky has always had our support in the transfer market and we will leave that entirely up to him how he wants to go forward," said TG. "The money is there if he wants to use it. We have been working really hard and are also doing well in the league but we take nothing for granted. We must keep our focus.

"Malky and I have a good relationship and we speak a lot. We're together and want the same thing. What Malky needs is down to him, it's his call. But we support him. I'm delighted we are in the final of the Carling Cup. It's been a team effort."

Mackay, who has had bids for Blackpool's Matt Phillips and Craig Noone of Brighton rejected this month, sounded a note of caution, commenting: "We are certainly trying to bring in players. But it won't be knee-jerk. If we do something it will have been planned. The prices in January are so inflated that it might not be worth it."