CARDIFF CITY flops led by caretaker boss Aaron Ramsey were forced to attend a player awards ceremony just hours after being relegated.
A 0-0 draw at home to West Brom on Saturday confirmed the club’s demotion to League One.
Aaron Ramsey was close to tears after relegationX: CardiffCityFC
GettyThe ex-Arsenal star led his side to the club’s player awards night just hours after relegation[/caption]
Players were in tears at the final whistle but had to dust themselves down to appear at the club’s awards night just two-and-a-half hours later.
The event, which took place at the Cardiff City Stadium, saw the dejected squad rock up in suits and striker Callum Robinson took home the player of the season trophy.
But fans who attended the evening were left drowning their sorrows rather than celebrating.
And one supporter in attendance tweeted: “Saw Ramsey and the coaching staff in the entrance, they didn’t want to be here, nearly in tears they was.
“You can tell they care. Could tell on their faces they was gutted, wish they had longer.”
A disastrous campaign has seen Cardiff win just nine of their 45 Championship games as they drop into the third tier for the first time since 2003.
The relegation comes just six seasons after they fell out the Premier League under Neil Warnock in 2019.
Arsenal legend Ramsey, 34, became the Bluebirds’ player-manager for the final three games of the campaign following the sacking of Omer Riza.
But after being unable to save them, the dejected Welshman said: “I’m gutted. I’m a fan as well and I’m sad to see this club going down.
“The fans have had a difficult time this season and I really feel for them. I know how they are feeling.
“But also, I want to say I’m proud of the last couple of performances. I think the level of effort that the players have put in and the information they have taken on in a short space of time is evident to see.
“But the reality is we have not been good enough over the course of the season and we have to accept that.”
Ramsey has overseen two draws so far and he comes up against fellow ex-Gunner Jack Wilshere’s Norwich on the final day of the season.
Wilshere, 33, who was coaching at Carrow Road, is in charge of the Canaries’ last two matches after Johannes Hoff Thorup was axed.
Cardiff’s leading fan group has blamed controversial owner Vincent Tan for relegation and demanded an experienced manager gets appointed, with Ramsey as his assistant.
RexCallum Robinson was voted player of the season[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
