Mick McCarthy appointment ‘same old, same old’ for Cardiff City – Ian Walsh

Mick McCarthy’s appointment as Cardiff City’s new manager has been criticised by former Bluebirds striker Ian Walsh.

Ex-Republic of Ireland boss McCarthy has taken charge for the rest of the season after Neil Harris was sacked.

“I think it’s same old, same old, when are they going to learn? Where is the plan for Cardiff City moving forward?” Walsh said.

“No new players coming through from the youth system and the manager might be sacked one or two times.”

Harris, who took over from Neil Warnock in November 2019, departed after six straight defeats had left Cardiff 15th in the Championship, closer to the relegation zone than the play-offs.

Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan said the board had been left with “no choice” to let Harris and assistant manager David Livermore go as “sadly we are in a result-orientated business”.

McCarthy has almost two decades of managerial experience, including Millwall, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town and Cypriot side Apoel – as well as two spells as Republic boss.

Former Cardiff and Republic midfielder Graham Kavanagh believes his former international boss will have an impact at the club.

“With regards to him as a man, as a coach and as a manager, for me he’s been top-class,” Kavanagh told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“The modern game has moved on… but Mick understands the game completely, he’s proved that down the years.

“At this point in time he’s a very steady pair of hands and I do think with Mick he has a point to prove because it hasn’t necessarily gone so well for whatever reason, and he wasn’t able to finish the job he set out to do the second time with Ireland.”