Somehow there was an air of inevitability about the occasion. Blackpool came into the fixture with the better run of form having fought their way into the play-offs. A late season burst saw them qualify ahead of Cardiff's bitter South-Walian rivals, Swansea City. For their manager, Ian Holloway, promotion with Blackpool laid to rest the heartbreak suffered after he was relegated from the Premier League with Leicester City. His flamboyant and entertaining press conferences will keep the media pack amused next season and in many ways he'll be the most interesting coach around, especially as it now looks certain that Jose Mourinho is headed to Real Madrid.
For Dave Jones' men what next? Well, for certain they'll be strong contenders in the Championship in 2010/11. This year's relegated Premier League teams do not pose the same threat as West Brom and Newcastle did this time last year. What will bother fans more, however, is the still precarious financial situation that the Bluebirds find themselves in. Malaysian investment is due to take effect later this coming week and chairman, Peter Ridsdale, wil stand down after 3 years in charge. The club still owe the taxman a considerable amount of money, the repayment of which has already been put back several months. Keeping the squad together will be the first aim; signing new players is a must, but by no means a certainty.
All in all, the season 2009-2010 has been successful despite ending in the most tragic of circumstances. City are well set to challenge next year and we still have one of the finest English managers in the game, Dave Jones.
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