By David Dulin

Captain Joe Ledley's future has been uncertain for some time

Last year's end-of-season play-off collapse is something Cardiff will want to get out of their system quickly with a good start to the 2009-10 campaign.

And the pressure will be on Dave Jones' men to produce the goods this time around as they start their first season at the 26,500-seater Cardiff City Stadium.

A section of the supporters had called for a change in manager at the end of last season after the Bluebirds missed out on the play-offs by one goal following a miserable run-in.

But chairman Peter Ridsdale has kept faith in Jones, who has produced a promotion-chasing team on a shoestring budget while having to sell his best players.

With the transfer window remaining open until the end of August, hopes of a good start could be undone by yet more departures.

606: DEBATE As things stand, indeed as things are likely to be, I completely fail to see how anything other than mid-table beckons this season saladthedragon

Already gone is star defender Roger Johnson to Birmingham City, while captain Joe Ledley has yet to commit his future to the club and top scorer Ross McCormack has indicated he wants to leave.

Jones wanted to bring in up to eight new faces, but only five have arrived with four of them at the back.

Goalkeeper David Marshall has joined from Norwich and defenders Paul Quinn, Anthony Gerrard and Paul Hudson look set to bolster the Bluebirds' defence as Jones looks to fill the void left by Johnson.

But it is the midfield that could hold the key to Cardiff's fortunes this season.

There have been no new additions leaving Ledley - if he stays - and Stephen McPhail as the likely central midfielders with Peter Whittingham and the lively Chris Burke on the wings.

There could also be a place on the wing for McCormack who has been played there before as opposed to his usual striking role where he hit 23 goals last season.

That has left the Scotland international unhappy at being behind record-signing Michael Chopra who could start the season up front alongside Jay Bothroyd.

Should he leave, Chopra and Bothroyd would be the only two senior strikers at the club as Paul Parry's exit is imminent.

Cardiff's success this season could depend on their ability to hold on to both Ledley and McCormack or, should they lose one of them, their ability to replace them.

They have a squad that is capable of challenging for the play-offs, but whether they can go that one step further remains to be seen.

In: David Marshall (Norwich City, undisclosed), Mark Hudson (Charlton, £1m), Michael Chopra (Sunderland, £4m), Anthony Gerrard (Walsall, undisclosed), Paul Quinn (Motherwell, £300,000)

Out: Tom Heaton (end of loan), Stuart Taylor (end of loan) Eddie Johnson (end of loan), Darren Purse (Sheffield Wednesday, free) Roger Johnson (Birmingham, £5m)

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