Neil Warnock achieved the unthinkable last year, guiding a mediocre Cardiff City side - under the unpredictable ownership of Vincent Tan - to Championship promotion in his first full season at the Cardiff City Stadium.
But come this Christmas, Warnock's only dialogue with the Indonesian business tycoon could be only through Christmas cards.
It was what every Cardiff fan dreamt of, a return to top flight football at the expense of their bitter Welsh rivals Swansea City. Warnock came to Cardiff, who were languishing in second from bottom in the Championship table, full of optimism and promise. With seven promotions under his belt, Cardiff knew they had the man they needed to bounce back to the promised land.
And bounce back they did on the final day of a rollercoaster campaign - although they
Vincent Tan is crude businessman who wants to maintain the riches of Premier League football this time round. In Warnock he has got a manager he can trust, but has he got a manager he can rely on?
Despite being the 15th richest owner in the Premier League, Tan gave Warnock a modest budget in the summer - with many fans disappointed with the acquisitions compared to the likes of fellow newcomers Wolves and Fulham. Both clubs splashed out on a number of high profile signings, with ex-Chelsea and German international Andre S
Fulham and Burnley at home make the other two which could potentially put points on the board for the Welsh side but after all that ball chasing, two months of zero points is still a distinct possibility for Warnock's men.
If the Bluebirds fail to get anything out of the Fulham and Burnley games, Warnock will have some serious questions to answer - especially after stating to reporters "
Cardiff face an improving and determined side in Burnley next weekend, where Sean Dyche has finally got the wheels in motion after failing to juggle European and domestic football. The two teams play similar brands of football, but Burnley have that added quality which could see them get over the line at the Cardiff City Stadium and land Warnock in deeper trouble.
Should Warnock still be at the helm in November, which is arguably unlikely given the fixture list, he could enjoy avoiding any of the top six until Manchester United on 22nd December. That key period in between is where he is likely to gain some points and have a chance of gaining some momentum in the Premier League.
Some difficult decisions lie in the hands of Vincent Tan. We know he's unpredictable, ruthless and rather odd, but whether he will stick with the man who brought his team to the table for much longer is anybody's guess.
Source: 90min