Cardiff City owner Sam Hammam has said the sale of James Collins and Danny Gabbidon to West Ham has safeguarded the club's future for next season. The Wales central defenders were sold to Upton Park this week for an initial fee believed to be �3.2m.
"At this point, �2.5m will be set aside to make sure that we can go through the 2005/06 season without further financial problems," Hammam said.
"The balance will be made available to the manager to improve the team."
New Bluebirds boss Dave Jones was tasked with lowering the cash-strapped club's wage bill by a third.
The departures of top-earners Gabbidon and last week Peter Thorne, to Norwich, have helped balance the books.
Hammam confirmed that former Southampton and Wolves boss Jones now has �600,000 to help rebuild a team that has had the heart ripped out of it this summer.
"The sale of Ginge (Collins) and Gabbs was traumatic for all of us, but it had to be made," Hammam added in a statement on the club's official website.
"We are still working very hard to raise short-term finances in the order of a few million to be able to strengthen the team even more - but as it stands this money is not available.
"We now know that we can function independent and irrespective of outside circumstances - and so, at the same time change around a failing team, albeit with limited resources.
"Our destiny is now in our own hands."
MMIX
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