Blue murder as Cardiff turn red

THE Far Eastern tycoon who owns soccer’s Cardiff City stunned fans yesterday by declaring the team have to DUMP their historic blue strip. 

 

Malaysian magnate Vincent Tan wants the side — nicknamed the BLUEBIRDS — to switch to RED.

He is convinced it is a more “lucky” colour after the Championship side came within an ace of promotion to the Premier League — only to lose in the play-offs to West Ham.

Fans of the club, which has sported blue for more than a century, were outraged last night as it emerged the change will be rubber-stamped within a fortnight.

At first, many thought it was a joke.

A lucky DRAGON may also replace the bluebird on the club’s crest, which is likely to mean the team gets a new nickname.

In return, Mr Tan’s Malaysian consortium will agree to wipe out Cardiff’s £20million debt and build a new training ground.

A source said of Cardiff stars such as Ben Turner donning the new kit next season: “This is crazy and incredibly bizarre. The owner believes red is a more positive colour than blue.

“A third of the fans are against it and another third still think it is a wind-up.

“But a third would not care if Cardiff played in pink — providing they got promotion to the Premier League.”

Mr Tan, 59 — who is worth £800million — is convinced the idea will lead to a change of fortunes for his side.

Cardiff came within a whisker of winning the Carling Cup this season but lost on penalties to Liverpool in the final.

The side also made the promotion play-offs. But over two legs against West Ham they failed to score — as their opponents netted a total of five.

Cardiff’s owners say they will give boss Malky Mackay more money next season to take the club into the top flight.