Jones looks for good season

New Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has revealed his rebuilding of the club is will be in his own image.

The new Bluebirds will reflect his own personality - tough and competitive, hunting down opposition in possession.

They will also be cold and calculating.

Jones has been busy on and off the pitch in the past six weeks as he looks to build a squad capable of pushing for the play-offs, but also off the pitch in dealing with club owner Sam Hammam in making sure the passionate chairman knows his place.

Jones, this week won the argument over what the players should wear on away trips.

He wanted club tracksuits so that all 18 players going to Ipswich Town wore the same, while Hammam disagreed, arguing the players should be individual and wear whatever they feel comfortable in.

When Jones' side arrive at Portman Road for their opening game of the season against Ipswich, the players will be wearing their tracksuits.

Jones, who was warned about Hammam's style of ownership, has made it clear that he does not want any interference from above.

When he felt Hammam's persistant contact was too much he asked:

"Do you have any grandchildren, Sam?"

"Of course," said Hammam.

"Well, go nag them and leave me alone," said Jones, who will do everything he can to ensure that all football decisions are his and his alone.

Jones is not a man to shirk away from anything, and he is more than happy to express his view to anyone.

Hammam is a knowledgable man, knows his football, and has big opinions - and he is not afraid to voice them.

However, he will find that Jones may not always listen.

"I have nothing but respect for Sam Hammam because everything he said he would do when I took the job he has done," said Jones.

"When I first spoke to Sam and Peter Ridsdale the thing that most impressed me was their honesty about the situation at the club.

"I told them to do what they had to do and I would work from there."

Jones has brought in nine new players on a tight budget, adding experience and a tough competitive edge as well as players with real quality.

"The rehab job we have done over the last six weeks is on a par with what happened at Wolves," explained Jones.

"There were 28 pros at Wolves and I got rid of 22/23 of them.

"We have been written off by the so-called experts.

"But when that happens you go quietly about your business in a cold and calculating way.

"That's the type of person I am - with most managers their team reflects what they are.

"We need one or two more players, but we have a squad who might just frighten and surprise a few people.

"There are always one or two dark horses and hopefully we'll be one of them.'

Jones will experience, probably for the first time tomorrow, just how loyal the supporters are when almost 1500 are expected to make the trip to Ipswich.

Jones said: "That's fantastic, a lot of Premiership clubs would love to have that level of support.

"We need to build on that and if we are to achieve that I must build a team for supporters to be proud of.

"I do set targets for myself, but I don't tell anybody what they are.

"In that way the only person disappointed if we fall short of my personal aim is myself.

"But I would be disappointed if we didn't do better than the team did last season.

"It's tough when you fight relegation and Lennie Lawrence saved this club.

"He kept Cardiff City in the Championship.

"That's no mean feat.

"My aim has been to keep the good things Lennie and his staff brought to the club and add to them.

"Now we are ready.

"We could not be more ready.

"Everybody at the club wants us to do well, everybody is itching and raring to go.'