Cardiff City have confirmed the appointment of Graham Stack, the new goalkeeping coach who has joined from his position as head of academy goalkeeping at Watford.
He replaces Andy Dibble, no mean feat given he was such a fans' favourite around these parts, with Steve Morison now having compiled a completely new backroom staff, made up of Tom Ramasut, Mark Hudson, Stack and fellow new arrival, which has also just been confirmed, PJ Wilson, who will become the club's head of physical performance after joining from Bath Rugby.
Stack's role in pre-season will be an interesting one. Dibble was always hands on and heavily involved with the recruitment and management of goalkeepers at the club and one suspects the newly-appointed coach will have a similar remit.
Read more: Cardiff City recruit Watford and Bath Rugby coaches as Steve Morison rings changes off the pitch
Speaking about his appointment, Stack said: “I’m really pleased to be here. It’s an incredible place. I actually came to Cardiff on trial while I was at Plymouth Argyle and spent a month in the city, and thoroughly enjoyed my time here.
“Steve Morison is someone I have spoken to a lot over the years through football and after discussing the plans for the future, this felt like the right move for me.
“I’m delighted to be coming in to work with the goalkeepers who we have, and I believe it is going to be competitive. We’ve got some incredible talents on that side.
“Everyone has been hugely complimentary about the club. It’s exciting times for Cardiff City. We’ve got a lot of new faces, who will be looking to make a positive impression. This project is something I’m really looking forward to being a part of.”
Two of those new faces, of course, are new goalkeeper signings Jak Alnwick and Ryan Allsop, who have signed from St Mirren and Derby County respectively. At one stage Cardiff were resigned to the fact they wouldn't be able to get Allsop, such was the demand for his signature, but view it as a real coup to have got it over the line.
The aforementioned duo join Dillon Phillips, who ended last season as the club's No.1 after it was announced that Alex Smithies would depart. That's three first-choice goalkeepers all vying for one spot when the season kicks off on July 30.
Lest we forget that Cardiff also have Rohan Luthra in their ranks, too, and have offered a new contract to long-time Bluebird and former Wales youth international George Ratcliffe. Surely something now has to give in that department? Should Ratcliffe sign, Cardiff will have five goalkeepers over the age of 20, all of whom will have designs on playing first-team football in the coming years.
As the players report back for pre-season in earnest on Wednesday, most of which will be for testing, Stack will no doubt be running the rule over his goalkeeping options and decisions will have to be made before the transfer window closes.
As Stack himself alluded to, "It is going to be competitive. We've got some incredible talents," however it is now down to him to assess the glovemen's pecking order over the coming weeks. In any case, it surely seems highly unlikely all five will be at the club when the transfer window finally closes on September 1.
READ NEXT:
- Five young talents sign Cardiff City deals
Former Cardiff City player loses High Court claim that knee surgeon cut short his career
Aaron Ramsey to Cardiff City hits trouble as Juventus legend offers him transfer lifeline
Cardiff City supermarket sweep has been a great success but Bluebirds still lacking in key area
Cardiff identify three priority positions they want to add to next
