Cardiff City Owner Vincent Tan has put an unknown rookie in charge of the club’s transfer dealings (Picture: Getty)

Cardiff City have suspended their Head of Recruitment Iain Moody and replaced him with a 23-year-old Kazakhstani believed to be a friend of owner Vincent Tan’s son.

Alisher Apsalyamov is believed to have taken over the role despite having no previous experience in football, in a controversial move that seriously undermines manager Malky Mackay.

The Bluebirds boss credits Moody with the acquisition of several of the club’s best signings during Mackay’s successful two-year spell in charge – including the likes of Steven Caulker, Chilean Gary Medel, £8million Dane Andreas Cornelius and Fraizer Campbell.

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Cardiff manager Malkay Mackay (Picture: Getty Images)

Mackay regards Moody as his most trusted lieutenant, having previously worked with him at Watford, but according to Wales Online Tan wanted his own man overseeing the club’s transfer business and has given Apsalyamov the chance on a temporary basis.



The youngster has been at the club since February as an executive assistant to CEO Simon Lim.

However, according to his own biography on a social networking site, Apsalyamov – thought to be a friend of owner Vincent Tan’s son U-Jiun – has no previous experience working in football.

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