Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay's trusted aide Iain Moody suspended and replaced by Kazakh rookie
8 Oct 2013 22:00
Iain Moody, the head of recruitment who Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has credited with most of his signings, has been suspended by Cardiff City and replaced by 23-year-old Kazakhstani Alisher Apsalyamov.
Malky Mackay's right-hand man Iain Moody has been suspended by Cardiff City - with his role being filled by rookie Kazakhstani Alisher Apsalyamov.
Head of Recruitment Moody, Mackay’s most trusted lieutenant, has played a key role in helping deliver signings during the manager’s successful two-year spell in charge of the Bluebirds
But WalesOnline has learned Moody - who also worked alongside Mackay at Watford - has left his post with the previously unknown Apsalyamov taking over his duties in an acting capacity.
The shock news, which is likely to unsettle Mackay, comes just days after it was revealed the Bluebirds boss has also been forced to deal with tensions between City’s players andowner Vincent Tan over a bonus row.
We have been told Tan has wanted his own man overseeing transfer activity and Moody’s position appears to have become less and less secure.
And it this week reached a critical point with Moody suspended from his duties with Apsalyamov, 23, handed his responsibilities.
Moody has become the most influential member of Mackay’s backroom team, sent by the manager to various parts of the world to target, talk to and sign the players who have helped the Bluebirds win the Championship title and also stabilise in the Premier League.
Among the City stars Moody was responsible for bringing to the club have been England international Steven Caulker, Chilean midfield warrior Gary Medel, French right-back Kevin Theophile-Catherine and £8million Dane Andreas Cornelius. He also helped Mackay snap up the likes of Fraizer Campbell, Jordon Mutch and Kim Bo-Kyung.
However, Tan wants somebody else at the helm with Apsalyamov given the chance in an acting capacity following Moody’s shock suspension, the reasons for which not known.
Apsalyamov has been at Cardiff since February, describing his position as executive assistant to CEO Simon Lim - although has not previously been listed by the club as a key staff member on their website or matchday programme.
According to his own biography on a social networking site, Apsalyamov - thought to be a friend of owner Vincent Tan’s son U-Jiun - has no previous experience in football.
But is believed he has spent several weeks shadowing Moody, a figure Mackay has regularly praised in public for his work in Cardiff’s forensic approach to talent-spotting and recruiting.
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