• Premier League

Mackay refusing to quit Cardiff after owner row

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan has sacked the club's head of recruitment © PA Photos

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Malky Mackay is reportedly refusing to walk away from Cardiff City despite owner Vincent Tan replacing the club's head of recruitment with a 23-year-old friend of his own son.

Mackay's right-hand man Iain Moody has been shown the door with Kazakhstani Alisher Apsalyamov, who had been painting walls at the Cardiff City Stadium three months ago, brought in.

Apsalyamov, who has no experience at all in football, attended the same Swiss finishing school as Tan's son.

However the Daily Mail understands Mackay, who led Cardiff to promotion to the Premier League last season, will not resign despite being devastated by the developments.

Mackay's relationship with Tan has deteriorated in recent weeks with the increasing presence of Apsalyamov causing him alarm.

Apsalyamov was initially brought in to help the club's maintenance team but has recently been preparing for his new role by studying Cardiff's games on a laptop.

On Tuesday, Moody was placed on gardening leave until the end of the season before staff were informed Apsalyamov would take over his duties.

Tan previously courted controversy by changing the colour of Cardiff's kit from blue to red, and has said he may even change the name of the club. He also appointed his friend Simon Lim as chief executive.

Moody spent two years with Mackay in Wales and is credited with playing a key role in bringing Steven Caulker, Gary Medel, Kevin Theophile-Catherine and Andreas Cornelius to the club.

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