Cardiff city plan far east pre season tour

CARDIFF City are set for a ground-breaking pre-season tour to the Far East to prepare for what they hope will be a 2010-11 season in the Premier League.

The Echo understands a deal is being done for Dave Jones to take his Bluebirds to Malaysia for two matches in the summer. They will follow in the footsteps of Manchester United by playing a Malaysian XI at the 90,000-capacity Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

Ryan Giggs and the rest of Sir Alex Ferguson’s superstars played at the stadium on a Far East tour as they sold the brand name of Manchester United.

However, a proposed Malaysia versus Real Madrid match this summer has been called off, leaving local organisers free to pencil in a match against the Bluebirds.

The deal to go to Malaysia is part of the ambitious plans for Dato Chan Tien Ghee and his consortium to take over the club.

He is hoping to complete a £6m investment which would enable the Bluebirds to head off a winding up order over a £1.9m tax bill which is due to be heard in the High Court next week.

A second match is planned for Jones’ men on tour, as well as a game at home against a European side... and that will form the bulk of City’s pre-season preparations.

The proposal is for City to fly out in mid-July and return a couple of weeks after. But exact dates cannot be set until Cardiff know whether or not they are in the Premier League, which starts a week after the Championship.

Jones has already been assured by Dato Chan he will continue as City manager next season, in the event of a takeover. The Malaysian pledge comes whether City are promoted or not.