This writer is well into his fourth year of covering Cardiff City, but next week will be the fifth manager he sits opposite in a Bluebirds press conference.
It's been a tumultuous time since Cardiff's last fall from the Premier League. The club have started poorly every season, swung drastically from one style of play to another, overseen a gigantic squad turnover and been hit with off-field tragedies and complications amid the backdrop of a devastating global pandemic and cost-of-living crisis for its fans.
But despite all of that, there is no denying that this club is one brimming with potential. In fact, that's what makes all the shortcomings of the last few years so disappointing and frustrating. They are so close to getting things right.
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There were, though, one too many poor results in the opening 10 games of the season for the board to give Steve Morison more time. There were murmurings before the Middlesbrough game that, if they had lost that, Morison's position might have been untenable. A win on Teesside afforded him some grace, but a disappointing loss to lowly Huddersfield Town just days later proved the final straw.
Morison was contacted on Sunday morning, when he was told he would be relieved of his duties, before Mark Hudson, the former assistant manager, was asked later in the day if he would take charge of the club on a caretaker basis.
WalesOnline understands that Hudson will be given a similar opportunity to the one afforded to Morison after the sacking of Mick McCarthy almost a year ago. The club wrote in its statement that it would be 'considering options for the position', but unless an outstanding candidate appears, former Cardiff captain Hudson will be the man to prepare City for a brutal run of upcoming fixtures.
Morison has rightly been praised by sources inside the club this week for the excellent job he did in overseeing the turnover of players in the summer and implementing a new, and for the most-part improved, style of play. Indeed, as evidenced by Callum O'Dowda's Republic of Ireland press conference this week, the lion's share of players and staff currently in the building are grateful to Morison for being at the club in the first place. All 17 new players, even Tom Ramasut, his former under-23s assistant, Hudson himself and goalkeeper coach Graham Stack all have Morison to thank in that regard.
But heavy is the head that wears the crown; it's a results-based industry and the burden of getting said results fell on Morison's shoulders. There are those who believe his departure to be premature, with the former Wales striker not having been afforded enough time to truly gel together this new-look squad, while others bemoaned a lack of creativity and goals which has ultimately been the reason they find themselves in 18th place in the Championship.
Either way, the torch is Hudson's to carry for now. The former Huddersfield interim manager called his players back to report for first-team training at the Vale on Thursday, when he sat them down for their first meeting with him as the new boss.
It's understood there was an emphasis on owning the situation. There was clearly a disappointment that the run of results and performances led to this scenario and an understanding of what has happened so far must inform what they change to progress moving forward.
There has been much talk this week about a progressive and aggressive style of play, centred around disrupting the opposition when in defence, but, crucially, creating far more goalscoring opportunities. There is an acceptance within the club that the top end of the pitch has been the biggest issue, but there has been an insistence from within that no players will be held back and we are likely to see a more positive approach moving forward.
Hudson holds Cardiff close to his heart, having enjoyed many of his best playing years here and important milestones in his life, too, and he is believed to have expressed his sheer pride in being asked to lead the club.
Given the fact Morison has left, it is understood there have been tentative discussions about getting another set of hands on board on the coaching staff to compensate for his exit. However, that will only transpire if the right candidate is available who will help City to climb the table and no hasty appointment will be made for the sake of it.
There are, of course, positives which have been focussed on. They have implemented a good base to carry out their improved style of football and don't feel they are too far away. They are four points off fifth place in the table and a couple of results, hopefully aided by a new manager bounce, will get them right back in the mix.
The Bluebirds come back to a busy week, with top-seven teams Burnley and Blackburn Rovers next up at Cardiff City Stadium before a trip away to mid-table Wigan. But seven out of the next 11 matches are at home, that must be seen as a bonus and a way to build real moment. Lest we forget, too, there is a South Wales derby thrown in among that stretch of games, albeit away from home, but nothing will build confidence more than a result there.
It all comes thick and fast but, if they get key results in the games they are targeting, the picture could look far rosier come that World Cup break and that is the focus of the club at the time of writing.
That will all come with an improved output at the top of the pitch. Getting the best out of Rubin Colwill must be high on the agenda, too. It was always a touchy subject under the former manager, but he is rightly a player Cardiff fans want to see more of due to his incredible ability on the ball.
There is no doubt that Cardiff know and appreciate his ability, everyone at the club is excited by his talent and potential. But perhaps we haven't known the extent of his injury troubles this year.
Rob Page spoke of the Wales international enduring some growth issues this year, which you can read about here , and indeed it has been said that over the last six months he has added a lot more to his frame and has just struggled a tad with that. He also hurt his hamstring while on the pre-season trip up to Scotland and just suffered a little setback about 10 days ago. But there is certainly no doubt that he is viewed as a central player. He won't be shunned to the side. In fact, there is a hope he will overcome these issues and, with a bit more consistency in his play, he will play a central role for the rest of the season and beyond.
Cardiff expect to welcome back more players shortly, too. Kion Etete is understood to be back on the grass, but with final boxes to be ticked. Joe Ralls is in the same situation, too. Ebou Adams is in the latter stages of his recovery, but is not quite fully up to speed yet. Isaak Davies is taking a little longer, though, and no concrete timeframe has been given for his return, other than to say he won't be rushed.
Republic of Ireland duo O'Dowda and Callum Robinson won't return to Cardiff's Vale base until Thursday, which will see a quick turnaround before the home clash with the Clarets at the weekend.
City fans will hear from their new manager for the first time next Thursday, when he will take his first press conference. It is yet another clean slate under a new manager, who is tasked with just bridging that gap, again only four points to the top five, to the top end of the table.
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