Why Cardiff spending much less than their rivals in the transfer window is actually a good thing for Bluebirds fans
Neil Warnock has radically altered his squad but is still falling behind the big spenders of the Championship
CARDIFF fans are awash with excitement heading into the new Championship campaign.
The Bluebirds are set to embark on their first full season under the experienced Neil Warnock and that alone has been enough to create great optimism in South Wales.
The 68-year-old completely changed Cardiff's fortunes last season, finishing in the top half despite taking over a team sitting in the bottom three.
The Bluebirds' form shifted in the hands of Warnock and that, as well as the manager's burning desire to achieve a record-breaking eighth promotion, has instilled a confidence around the Cardiff City Stadium not seen since the days of promotion and Premier League.
Warnock has set about radically improving the squad over the summer with seven new signings to-date, including Neil Etheridge (Walsall), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (free), Lee Camp (free), Callum Paterson (free), Danny Ward (Rotherham United), Loic Damour (free) and Lee Tomlin (Bristol City).
The latter set Cardiff back by almost £3million.
If that fee wasn't pressure enough, Tomlin has big boots to fill with many expecting him to play a part in replacing long-serving midfielder Peter Whittingham.
A Bluebirds' stalwart for more than a decade, Whittingham left the club in the summer for League One club Blackburn after his contract ran out.
The 32-year-old was offered a new deal with reduced wages and playing time but - the true footballer he is - decided to head North in search of a fresh opportunity.