Earnshaw earns Cardiff reprieve

Whatever the outcome of Sam Hammam's dream of delivering another rags-to-riches story, Cardiff City fans have fast become aware that it will not be pursued on the back of convention or compromise. Making waves and ruffling feathers were part and parcel of his Wimbledon reign and he clearly sees no reason to change tack for life in the Third Division.

Hammam has already annoyed Wales's finest player, John Charles, by declaring that rivals Swansea City are a second-rate club, irritated referees by distributing red and yellow cards to supporters at the first home game of the season, and suggested that Cardiff's Bluebird emblem be replaced by a Welsh dragon.

He will also operate without a chairman. Steve Borley is stepping down after the £3.1million takeover is officially completed this week. Borley said: 'Sam is like a whirlwind. He has given the whole area a new buzz. With his enthusiasm, he can do more with £3m than others could do with £10m.'

'I'm not a chairman and I never will be,' Hammam said. 'Chairmen are supposed to be wise, speak pearls of wisdom and drive Rolls-Royces. I'm not into that.

'Wimbledon was, is, and always will be my baby. But the baby has grown up. I like to think of Cardiff as my new family. The potential here is huge. I want to give Wales the club it deserves, so that the fans don't have to wear Liverpool and Manchester United shirts. I'm not making any predictions, just to say it is up to us to make it happen.'

An 11,000 crowd for their first home match, against Blackpool, after Cardiff were relegated last season underlined the potential available to Bobby Gould, who will now take over as manager.

Then their team conceded a last-minute equaliser to Blackpool. This time it was Cardiff who rescued a match after looking dead and buried at 2-0 down with seven minutes left.

Paying the price for a host of missed chances, they went behind to Scott McGleish's fourth goal in four games and conceded another to substitute Ken Charlery after excellent work by Darren Currie. Hammam, prowling the terracing next to his team's dugout, looked resigned until Josh Low fired one in off an upright, and he was positively beaming when substitute Robert Earnshaw volleyed the equaliser.

Billy Ayre, who now steps down to become Gould's assistant, said: 'One or two things were said at half-time and we looked a different proposition after that.'

While Cardiff aim for the stars, Barnet have to cope with poor crowds and the thought that if they don't find a new ground quickly then permission to continue operating below the minimum requirements for a Third Division ground could be withdrawn.

Manager John Still reflected on the late collapse by admitting: 'We don't know how to kill teams off. It happened the week before and the only way to do it is to kick it long and hard.'