Immediate Return to the Championship

Newly appointed Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has been given a clear mandate by owner Vincent Tan: secure an immediate return to the Championship. The 46-year-old Irishman, who recently signed a three-year deal with the League One side, is no stranger to high expectations. Following Cardiff's relegation from the second tier last season, Barry-Murphy is determined to restore the club's former glory.

A Vision for the Future

Barry-Murphy expressed his enthusiasm for the role, citing the club's potential as a major draw. "Vincent was very clear about where he sees the club going and how quickly he wants to see that," he said. "My conversation with him was really positive, and I told him I have a real deep belief in how to achieve that."

The new head coach emphasized the importance of long-term success, stating, "For everybody on the outside, including Vincent, the objective is to get to the Championship and beyond as soon as possible. There's a potential to achieve something that could be really special."

Guardiola's Influence

Barry-Murphy's coaching philosophy has been heavily influenced by his time working alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Describing Guardiola as "the best manager in the world," Barry-Murphy aims to bring an aggressive, possession-based style of play to Cardiff City Stadium.

"His influence on everybody he comes into contact with is huge," Barry-Murphy noted. "More than anything, he spoke to me about being myself and remembering who you are, what you want the people you work with to look like, and that I have to remember where I came from."

The Cardiff 'Hotseat'

Barry-Murphy becomes Cardiff's 14th full-time boss in 14 years under Tan, a statistic that highlights the club's turbulent managerial history. However, the new head coach remains unfazed. "It doesn't feel that hot at the moment," he said with a philosophical tone. "The conversation with Vincent was really positive, and he told me exactly what he likes to see in football. I said luckily for him, I know how to supply that."

A Personal Motivation

The appointment comes on the heels of a personal tragedy for Barry-Murphy, who recently lost his close friend and former Rochdale teammate Joe Thompson to cancer. Thompson's words have become a source of inspiration for the new head coach. "Before he died, one of the biggest things he said was, 'we don't have time to hang around or look back. It's just a waste of our time.' All of our lives we prove people wrong," Barry-Murphy shared.

Looking Ahead

With the full support of the club's hierarchy and a clear vision for the future, Barry-Murphy is ready to lead Cardiff City through the challenges of the upcoming season. "All the responsibility is on me to liberate the players and set them free," he said. "We have a vision to do something completely different, and a large part of the reason I'm here is to try and push to do extraordinary things."

As Cardiff City prepares for the new season, all eyes will be on Barry-Murphy to see if he can deliver on his promise of a swift return to the Championship and beyond.