Malky Mackay leaves Watford to take Cardiff hotseat

Ian Gibb11 April 2012

Malky Mackay has accepted the offer to become Cardiff's new manager after agreeing a deal to take over the Welsh club while on holiday in Italy.

The Scot flew back in the early hours today to complete the paperwork as Watford admitted defeat in trying to stop him leaving Vicarage Road.

The Hornets were desperate to keep hold of the 39-year-old, who performed miracles last season to keep the club out of a relegation battle. Mackay worked on a shoestring budget but guided the club to a mid-table finish with Danny Graham ending the season as the Championship's top scorer.

Watford cashed in on Graham and winger Will Buckley this summer by selling them for £4.5million to Swansea and Brighton respectively but there was no guarantee from the club's new owners that any of that money would be available to buy players. Rather than rebuild the club, Mackay has chosen to go to Cardiff, who have Premier League ambitions after missing out in last season's play-offs.

A source close to Mackay said: "Malky is really proud of what he has achieved at Watford, especially bringing so many youngsters through.

"But it was always going to be a tough ask to expect him to achieve miracles again without the cash to spend on decent players."

Watford did try to block Cardiff's initial approach, with new owner Laurence Bassini snubbing their attempts to open talks with Mackay but he relented after advice from board member and former manager Graham Taylor, who knew it was impossible to hold a man against his wishes.

Watford want £1m in compensation for Mackay, who became their manager in June 2009 after Brendan Rodgers resigned. Former Hornet Neil Ardley, currently a coach at Cardiff, is an early runner to replace Mackay, while Chris Hughton is also in the frame.

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