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This week, Cardiff manager Dave Jones begged for more fans to attend games as Cardiff council demanded the club proves viability on it's envisaged 30,000 capacity new stadium.
With gates averaging nearly 1,700 under the break even, and Tuesday's draw with Brighton getting well under 10,000 fans, Cardiff face another hefty loss to top up their current £30million debt.
The new stadium, adjacent to their current Ninian Park home, hinges on a retail development being built alongside the ground but retailers have so far been reluctant to commit to the plan amid low high street sales. The sale of their existing site and long term increased income from the new site will shore up the clubs finances and help them to remain as top dog in Welsh football.
However, Cardiff council are unconvinced as to the viability of the plan after ploughing in £500,000 of taxpayers money into the planning. The original deadline of December 31st has been extended to March to allow the club to seek extra interest in the development after the club were refused an extension til June. The club itself has already committed £3million of it's own money to the project and can ill-afford the failure of the scheme.
Their position at the top of Welsh football is in severe doubt. Swansea hit a record gate of more than double Cardiff's gate last night as they continue their surge at the top of League One, and they have averaged nearly 50% higher attendances at the new Liberty stadium than Cardiff have managed in the crumbling Ninian Park.
A new stadium has vastly improved the finances of one sleeping giant of Welsh football. Another desperately requires the same before the life support plug is pulled.
