Elsewhere, the club’s turnover fell by more than £3m and increased investment into the playing squad.
With the player wage bill up by 40% to £19.9m, it resulted in an operating loss of just under £10m – down by £1.1m compared to the previous year – with the club again detailing reliance on the ongoing support of majority shareholder Tan.
The Malaysian backer, who took control of Cardiff in 2010, added another £11.83m worth of loans, bringing the total owed to the businessman to around £68m.
The club says that, as previously, the loans will be written off or converted to equity, while interest is also being waived. Tan has also provided a written commitment outlining his ongoing support, without which the club admits its future “would look much more precarious”.
Loans from directors and other connected parties have also increased by an additional £11m, taking the total to £40.3m.
Other outgoings included £1.13m on the club’s academy which saw a new base open at the start of last season, with further investment planned.
The club also confirmed an initial £1.6m payment as part of the investment into a new training ground, including the signing of a 150-year lease with Vale of Glamorgan Council for the 42-acre site, with construction expected to start this summer in readiness for the 2026-27 season.
The club says such investment – including the increase in spending on the first-team squad – will help put it on a “more stable, stronger footing for the future”.
