**Cardiff City Chairman Publicly Dismisses Takeover Rumours as Baseless Speculation**
The chairman of Cardiff City, Mehmet Dalman, has firmly rejected ongoing rumours of an imminent takeover at the club, branding recent speculation as “fiction”. In a detailed statement delivered before the Bluebirds’ League One opening fixture against Peterborough United, Dalman sought to assure supporters that reports suggesting a change of ownership was on the horizon had no grounding in reality.
Throughout the summer, Cardiff City has found itself at the centre of various takeover theories. Notably, former Wales star Gareth Bale had expressed an interest in launching a bid, and a South African consortium, reportedly including Sutton United’s co-owner Gary Otto, was linked with possible negotiations. Whispers on social media and certain media outlets have fuelled the narrative that a sale was near completion, prompting Dalman to unequivocally address the situation.
Speaking candidly to members of the press, Dalman acknowledged that while there had been inquiries about the club, none could be considered serious enough to threaten the current ownership’s future. He emphasised that principal owner Vincent Tan has “no interest in selling the club right now” and underscored the determination of both the board and ownership to focus on a swift return to the Championship.
“I feel a responsibility to be transparent with our fans,” Dalman stated. “But I will not validate baseless rumours by issuing statements every time they crop up. What’s being said is pure fiction—no formal meetings, no due diligence, nothing of substance. Not a single member of the South African group has been authorised to visit the stadium, and there have been no discussions with the EFL or the Welsh FA.”
Dalman went on to clarify that while interest in the club is not new—indeed, expressions of interest crop up regularly—most approaches lack credibility or seriousness. “We get contacted all the time, some propositions are laughable and others have some legitimacy, but it is our duty to act solely in the best interests of Cardiff City,” he said. The chairman insisted that only one group had registered what he termed as “credible” interest, and even then, this had not evolved into a formal bid or enter the advanced stages required for negotiations.
Reflecting further, Dalman revealed there had been a genuine offer two seasons prior, when Cardiff were still in the Championship. This, he noted, was the only time in recent memory that a cast-iron bid had been tabled. At that stage, Tan elected not to proceed with the sale, a decision that, in hindsight, was financially prudent. “There’s been no serious offers since—just people talking numbers and hypothetical scenarios. Unless your club is in an exclusivity period, you’re not in a real negotiation,” added Dalman.
The market value of Cardiff City has become a point of discussion in itself. The club’s fortune in League One has predictably lowered its valuation when compared to recent years in the Championship, let alone the Premier League. Dalman gave an estimate of the club presently being worth about £40 million. “If we were in the Championship, perhaps £100 million, and promotion to the Premier League could see that number soar,” he explained, highlighting the club’s stadium and fanbase as being ready for top-flight football. Dalman made it clear, however, that now was “the worst possible time” to sell, given the depressed value associated with relegation.
Central to Dalman’s stance is the care with which any transfer of ownership would be handled, should it come to pass in the future. He stressed that Vincent Tan is deeply invested in the club’s legacy and would only consider a sale to parties with a proven ability to take the institution forward responsibly.
Looking past the distractions of takeover chatter, Cardiff’s board, including Dalman, are placing their trust in new head coach Brian Barry-Murphy and a promising crop of young talent making its way into the first team. With just a single player over the age of 23 named in the squad to face Peterborough, Dalman expressed genuine excitement about the club’s homegrown generation — a sentiment echoed by his colleague Steve Borley.
“There’s a real sense of anticipation around these emerging players,” Dalman stated. “This is a major reason why we’re so dedicated to bouncing back up leagues and not allowing external noise to distract from our objectives.”
As the new season kicks off, one thing is clear from the boardroom: Cardiff City’s focus remains firmly fixed on promotion and building a future worthy of its supporters, with no change of ownership planned for the foreseeable future.