Bluebirds' young attacking midfield player Ntazana Mayembe. Pic: CCFC

Cardiff City Under-23 Coach Andy Legg In Shock Dismissal

Andy Legg has left Cardiff City after the under-23 coach was dismissed and replaced by Cardiff-born Tom Ramasut.

Neath-born Legg, aged 53, was on his way before Cardiff’s Professional Development League goalless draw at home to  Charlton Athletic.

He shared under-23 coaching duties with Jarrad Harvey last season before taking sole charge before Cardiff’s academy’s pre-season tour to Cornwall.

The former Cardiff and Swansea player made more than 700 first team appearances during a career which took him to Swansea City, Notts County, Birmingham City, Ipswich Town, Reading, Peterborough and Cardiff City.

He loved his time at Ninian Park and said: “The five years I had at Cardiff were fantastic.

”Every season we were involved in relegation or promotion battles and we moved up two divisions into Division One.

Andy Legg was in charge of Cardiff City’s under-23 squad.

“I bowed out of Cardiff straight after a brilliant win at the Millennium Stadium (1-0 v QPR in the play-off final).”

Wales international Legg had been with the Bluebirds’ Academy for two and a half years.

Ramasut took charge of Cardiff’s under-23 team today, but the Bluebirds seem likely to appoint a new development team manager soon.

Club sources today insisted first team manager Neil Harris was not involved in Legg’s departure and it is a decision made at director level.

First team squad players Sol Bamba, Jazz Richards, Danny Ward and goalkeeper Joe Day were all in the Cardiff City squad for their Professional under-23 Development League goalless draw against Charlton Athletic.

Richards was the pick of the senior quartet, while former Southampton youth player Joel Bagan and explosive winger Ntazana Mayembe both caught the eye during a goalless draw at Cardiff Sports Campus.

The left-footed Bagan can play in a variety of positions and has made impressive progress since joining the Bluebirds during the summer of 2018.

Mayembe, a 16-year-old attacking midfield player whose family are from Zambia, has played international youth football for both England and Wales. He has the quality and football intelligence to catch the eye of Cardiff manager Neil Harris over the next few years.

Bagan, aged 18, and Mayembe linked superbly at times, while Richards played for just over an hour and impressed before going off. Richards has yet to make a first team appearance this season, mainly because of injuries, but he produced an impressive display, quick and decisive going forward.

He was also solid when Charlton counter-attacked, making two excellent tackles to stop attacks.

The young Bluebirds turned on a flowing team performance, but failed to earn victory despite hitting a post and having a Shamar Moore effort ruled out for offside.

Mayembe set up the chance for Moore and he side-footed into the net, but a linesman’s flag signalled offside.

This was a match between two in-form teams. Cardiff are unbeaten in seven under-23 fixtures, while Charlton have established a six game unbeaten run.

Ward played for 72 minutes before going off, while Bamba completed just over an hour. Both will benefit immensely for the playing time as they work to regain full fitness after injuries.

Goalkeeper Joe Day kept a clean sheet and will grow in confidence after a safe and solid performance during which he made a couple of smart saves.

Sol Bamba

Charlton had a glorious opportunity after eight minutes when they were awarded a penalty, but the spot-kick was fired high over the bar.

That was a let-off for the Bluebirds, while Bagan struck back with a fierce shot from 25 yards which hit a post.

Richards set up Mayembe with a cross, but the header flew over Charlton’s bar.

Sam Bowen went close for City with a long range shot which went just over before Moore, a tricky and lively forward, found the Charlton net only for the effort to be disallowed.

Cardiff City u-23: Joe Day, Jazz Richards (Ben Margetson 61), Joel Bagan, Sam Bowen, Ryan Pryce, Sol Bamba, Shamar Moore, Jake Evans (Aaron Bolger 61), Danny Ward, capt (Lloyd Humphries 72), Tom Sang, Ntazana Mayembe. Subs not used: Matt Hall (gk), Laurence Wootton.

Charlton Athletic u-23: Harness, Yao, Clayden, Henry, French, Mingi, Powell, Maloney, Ocran, Odoh, Isiaka. Subs: Harvey, Albon, Afrane-Kesey, Aidoo, Barton

Jazz Richards.

Professional Under-23 Development League fixtures

December

Monday 9: Watford v Cardiff City

Monday 16: QPR v Cardiff City

January

Monday 6: Cardiff City v Coventry City

Monday 13: Cardiff City v Colchester United

Monday 20: Coventry City v Cardiff City

Monday 27: Crystal Palace v Cardiff City

February

Monday 3: Millwall v Cardiff City

Monday 10: Cardiff City v Bristol City

Monday 17: Charlton Athletic v Cardiff City

March

Monday 2: Cardiff City v Watford

Monday 9: Cardiff City v Ipswich Town

Monday 16: Cardiff City v QPR

Monday 23: Leeds United v Cardiff City

Monday 30: Cardiff City v Burnley

April

Monday 6: Crewe Alex v Cardiff City

Monday 20: Cardiff City v Hull City

Monday 27: Wigan Athletic v Cardiff City

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *