Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has said the club is not prepared to appoint a director of football. His comments come after former player Stephen McPhail was spotted in the directors' box during Cardiff's 3-1 Championship victory over Charlton Athletic last week, sitting alongside Craig Bellamy.

Dalman told reporters he does not believe the time is right for such a move. "I don't think we're ready for that discussion yet," he said. The chairman acknowledged the potential value of adding an experienced football figure but highlighted the risks of disrupting the current setup. He pointed to the strong level of unity within the football operation since Brian Barry-Murphy's arrival as manager.

The McPhail speculation

Stephen McPhail's appearance at the Cardiff City Stadium sparked immediate speculation among supporters. The former Cardiff midfielder, who spent nine years as sporting director at Shamrock Rovers before stepping down in December 2025, was seen meeting with Barry-Murphy during the club's pre-season trip to Cork. More recently, new signing Jack Moylan revealed McPhail had sent him a congratulatory text after his move from Lincoln.

Despite these connections, Dalman is cautious. He explained that introducing a third senior figure between the board and the manager could create conflict. "If you bring in a third person and make him head of football, and that doesn't actually work with the manager well, managing that process is going to be very difficult," Dalman said. He stressed the importance of the manager having full confidence in his squad, adding he does not want Barry-Murphy "to play with any player that he doesn't want."

Barry-Murphy's influence

The club's current structure gives Brian Barry-Murphy significant influence over recruitment, a role he has embraced since taking charge. Dalman told WalesOnline he has "never known a more united Cardiff City" than the club under the current manager. This unity comes as Cardiff look to climb from 21st place in the Championship table, where they have seven points from eight games.

Their recent form shows one win, one draw and three losses in the last five outings. The 3-1 win against Charlton, featuring a brace from top scorer Jack Moylan, who now has three goals this season, provided a welcome boost. You can review the team's upcoming schedule on our fixtures page, which includes a trip to Blackburn on 10 October.

Some supporters remain divided on whether the manager should have such comprehensive control without additional oversight. Dalman recognises these debates but believes the current model is working. He has long been open to the idea of a sporting director in principle but insists the timing and the relationship must be perfect.

For now, the focus remains on supporting Barry-Murphy and the existing recruitment team. The club's next challenge is to build on the Charlton result and improve their league position, which sees them ten points behind leaders Swansea. The full standings show the scale of the task ahead as they prepare for the next match.

Read the full report at Wales Online