Steve Morison believes the performances of Cardiff City's five loan players will strengthen the club's position in the summer window as he hinted at what the Bluebirds' transfer strategy would be if he was in charge.
It is no coincidence that the Bluebirds' performances, and results, have improved since the end of the January transfer window.
Cardiff brought in Premier League reinforcements in Jordan Hugill from Norwich City, Tommy Doyle from Manchester City and Cody Drameh from Leeds United, while Uche Ikpeazu and Alfie Doughty joined from Championship rivals Middlesbrough and Stoke City respectively.
They have all injected a bit of extra quality the squad sorely needed and it makes one think what a difference it would have made if they had those sorts of players from the beginning of the season.
Morison did excellently in the transfer window and bought players to fit a changing system and all of them have responded.
And the manager, who at present still does not know where his future lies beyond June, said if he was to be given the reins next season then utilising the loan avenue in full, from a position of strength, would be at the forefront of his summer strategy.
"All the conversations we’ve had with the clubs (loaning out the players) since have been really positive," Morison said.
"We will have gained trust from a lot of them. All the clubs have sent down individual representatives to see how we work behind the scenes.
"They have got a complete overview of it. Plus the performances from those players have been excellent as well. I have no doubt in my mind, if the season stopped tomorrow, they’ll be going back better players.
"Would we be able to get any of those players back next year? Probably not, but we might be able to get the next one in line, because they know what we’re doing.
"It’s an avenue which, if I was in charge, we would have our core squad and then you have to take the full quota of the five loans to top up that group and help.
"You can get a different quality of player that you might not be able to get outright. Wages-wise, you’re able to get someone in who is that good, but it’s as a percentage rather than costing us a fortune.
"I think it’s been great. The size, quality and depth of these Premier League squads nowadays, it’s definitely a really good avenue for us."
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Morison said there had been no update over when he would learn of his fate and reiterated the decision is out of his hands and will be made by the higher-ups.
He still talks regularly with owner Vincent Tan, too, before and after each game, in fact. And Morison confirmed that, whether he gets the job or not, he is encouraged by the fact that everyone, from top to bottom, is now aligned in how this club wants to look moving forward.
"All we do is talk about the plan for the football club and where it’s going to go, which is an extension of what me and my staff have implemented since we come in," Morison said of his chats with Tan.
"Everyone can see the type of players, environment, slightly different style. The biggest thing is that if everyone doesn’t buy in it doesn’t work, because you get so many people pulling in different directions. Everyone is pulling in the same direction with that.
"Whether it is me or something else, the club is not going to see someone of a completely different ilk going forward.
"This is the way the club wants to go. This is the way I’m going to go if it’s me. If it’s someone else it’ll be the same path.
"There is definitely a vision and a structure going forward which is really healthy for us as a club."
Morison has said on more than one occasion how positive the board and the owner have been towards him since taking charge of the club and that has not changed despite coming off the back of two defeats.
Cardiff's impressive run of form was arrested by narrow defeats against two top teams in Huddersfield Town and Fulham, but Tan was suitably happy with the improvements which have been made.
"He has been really enjoying it and has been really positive even after the two losses as well," the manager added.
"He has seen the improvement and how well we have done. It’s great he can see the improvement in wins and defeats.
"The conversations have been as they were (in January). There are a few people between me and him who have to come together and make a decision on my future, that’ll be up to them.
"He has been great since I came in. I will have a chat with him this afternoon as normal and then again tomorrow."
Morison will hope that second chat will come after the Bluebirds have bounced back to winning ways.
Cardiff welcome Derby County to the Welsh capital on Tuesday night, with the game kicking off at 7.45pm.
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