Cardiff City FC has dropped plans to change their playing strip from blue to red after fans vented their anger at the proposals.
City’s Malaysian owners wanted to switch from the club’s traditional colours and change the club badge from a bluebird to a red dragon.
The “re-brand” would have seen £100m pumped into the club to clear its debts, strengthen its squad and upgrade its training facilities.
Fans reacted furiously at the planned changes, which were leaked before an official announcement, and the club has now dropped the change.
A statement on the Cardiff City website from chairman Dato Chan Tien Ghee read: “The new club crest and home colours which were being discussed were intended to demonstrate the symbolic fusion of Welsh and Asian cultures through the use of the colour red and the predominant featuring of a historical Welsh dragon under the Cardiff City FC name.
“This would have been a springboard for the successful commercialisation and promotion of the club and its brand, driving international revenues and allowing us to fund transfers and success locally, thereby giving the club the best chance of competing at the higher reaches of competition.
“This was not meant as a slight in any way shape or form on the club’s traditions or history which we recognise are the lifeblood of any club.
“It was intended as a positive change to allow us to adapt and embrace the future. Notwithstanding a number of rumours there were no further plans to turn the stadium red or make other radical changes.
“In the light of the vociferous opposition by a number of the fans to the proposals being considered as expressed directly to our local management and through various media and other outlets, we will not proceed with the proposed change of colour and logo and the team will continue to play in blue at home for the next season with the current badge.” Another radical move mooted was a change of name for the club, but Chan offered a firm rebuttal to these suggestions.
“I can categorically state that there were never any plans to rename the club,” he said.
“Cardiff City Football Club has a rich history, which we are honoured to celebrate and share locally, nationally and internationally.”