Cardiff City: Vincent Tan hints at kit change on Premier League return

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan has said for the first time that he is willing to reconsider his decision to change the club's colours from blue to red - but only upon their Premier League return.

The Malaysian businessman also confirmed that he has no plans to walk away from the Bluebirds following their recent relegation to the Championship.

quote I'm supposed to be the Bond villain, but actually I'm James Bond Vincent Tan Cardiff owner

"I would like to focus on getting back to the Premier League and after we are there I will definitely agree to sit down and find a solution - maybe we can have a compromise," said Tan.

"I am not a quitter. I will stay until we get ourselves up and then we will see whether we can work out this colour change and compromise. If we can, maybe I will stay for a long time."

Tan also said he:

Wants to unite with supporters and is open to fan representation on the board of directors

Is considering turning a third of the £150m owed to him by the club into equity

Welcomes ex-manager Malky Mackay's decision to drop his legal case against Cardiff

Has been unfairly labelled a "Bond villain" and is more like James Bond

But the most significant development is Tan's new stance on the home colours.

His decision in 2012 to change Cardiff's shirt from their traditional blue to "lucky" red, and the crest from a bluebird to a red dragon, formed part of a multi-million-pound investment.

The rebrand sparked opposition from sections of the fan base - with protests, demonstrations and, most recently, the daubing of graffiti at the stadium entrance.

Parts of Cardiff City's fanbase have continued to show their dislike of the club's colour change

Tan told the BBC in February there would be no return to blue under his ownership and that if supporters refused to accept his ruling, they should find a new investor to buy him out.

But on Saturday, the 62-year-old said: "Let us get back to Premier League first and after we are there I assure fans, the Supporters' Trust and all of them, that I will sit down with them and we will find a solution that I hope will be satisfactory for all - for them and for me also.

The Cardiff rebrand Tan hoped changing Cardiff's kit colour to red would make the club more marketable in Asia, with red seen as a colour associated with luck and success in the region. As part of the rebrand, he cleared the club's longstanding debt of around £30m to Langston Corporation and strengthened the playing squad, while plans for an upgrade to training facilities are in place.

"We would like to work closely with the fans. We will try to engage and meet as often as we can. Our chairman [Mehmet Dalman] will have constant dialogue and whenever I can I will join them."

When asked if there was scope for a supporter to join the board, Tan replied: "That's possible, yes. Maybe we can even bring one in now, that's a good suggestion, I would not mind at all."

On his own future, he was emphatic: "No-one should question my commitment. I will not quit while we are in this situation. I am not a quitter, nor a loser. A quitter never wins; a winner never quits.

"I will convert some of my debt to equity but not all because the amount is very big. The club owes me maybe £120m and I put in £140m or £150m. Maybe I will convert £50m and leave £100m debt.

"I won't walk away and let it go bust because if I want to walk away I must go and look for a new owner to take my place. That is being responsible. I don't do things in an irresponsible manner. I have a better chance of recouping my investment if it's in the Premier League."

Tim Hartley, chairman of Cardiff City Supporters' Trust, recognised Tan's "need to build bridges with supporters", and said: "His offer of a return to blue if Cardiff City return to the Premier League is welcome but there is no reason why he cannot do that now."

While welcoming fan representation on the board, the trust remains disappointed that Tan did not confirm that he would convert the club's entire debt to equity.

Hartley added: "This is what was promised two years ago and at a meeting in March, Mr Tan pledged to deal with the matter when the legal dispute with Malky Mackay was resolved."

Tan was speaking the day after Mackay halted his legal action against the south Wales outfit and apologised "without reservation" over the issues that led to his mid-season dismissal.

"For legal reasons I cannot comment on the detail," Tan explained. "But I'm pleased that finally we have a closure on this matter and suffice to say he is dropping all litigation, all claims against us. I'm pleased with the result and I'm also pleased that he has publicly apologised.

Who is Vincent Tan? The 62-year-old Malaysian is, according to Forbes, worth $1.6bn (£1bn), making him his country's 10th richest man

"I said before, one day some people will apologise to me for what they have done. Some people made me out like the villain. I'm supposed to be the Bond villain, but actually I'm James Bond."

It is understood that neither Mackay nor former head of recruitment Iain Moody, who was sacked in October and also released a statement of apology, received any compensation.

Tan refused to explain why Mackay dropped his case, adding: "Maybe you should ask him."

The Malaysian was unhappy with a perceived overspend of £15m on an agreed budget of £35m for player transfers last summer, a claim which Mackay and Moody have previously denied.

"He [Mackay] is supposed to be the expert in football," said Tan. "He let us down terribly. The fans and everyone should know. I hope they look at this and think carefully. They should judge me with their head, thinking with their brain, instead of from their heart or being influenced by others.

"The manager of a club is very important. He is like the lifeblood of the club and for that man to be manager of the club he must be trustworthy. When I lose trust in the manager, how can he carry on? I lost trust in my manager."

A representative for Mackay declined to comment when contacted by the BBC.