Barry-Murphy to be longest-serving Cardiff boss since Warnock

Brian Barry-Murphy will become Cardiff City's longest-serving boss since Neil Warnock on Saturday, 5 September. The 48-year-old takes charge of his 63rd game as head coach when his side face Portsmouth at Fratton Park.In doing so, he signifies the longest period of stability since Warnock departed the Welsh club seven years ago.Barry-Murphy will surpass the total number of matches overseen by Neil Harris between November 2019 and January 2021.It says a lot about Cardiff's recent managerial turbulence that the Irishman will claim this accolade after less than 450 days in charge.He is the eighth permanent appointment - and the 10th when including caretaker bosses - to take charge at Cardiff since Warnock left in November 2019.One person who will not get carried away by the accolade is Barry-Murphy himself. By his own admission, he is not one to reflect when there is work to be done."It's a great privilege to be at a club of this size and backed by so many incredible supporters. But I don't look back too often," the former Manchester City academy coach admitted when told about the milestone."I'm very focused on the now and trying to give the supporters more nights they can enjoy and less like [Wednesday's defeat to QPR]."Barry-Murphy took the reins at Cardiff during a difficult period for the club after their first relegation to the third tier in 22 years.The former Rochdale manager exceeded the average 277-day tenure of his predecessors by March of this year, when the Bluebirds were second in League One.And like Warnock he delivered a promotion, although his came in the first season, to get Cardiff back into the Championship at the first attempt.By winning 34 of his 62 games in charge of the Bluebirds thus far, Barry-Murphy has achieved that goal more often than not. Average attendances for home games increased in League One - despite relegation the previous season - and will likely do so again this campaign.The emergence of several talented youngsters and the style of play adopted during his spell has rejuvenated the feeling among Cardiff fans.And after three draws and a defeat to start the campaign, the question now is whether he can maintain the positive feeling in the Championship.Barry-Murphy is confident of it, even after a quiet transfer deadline day, during which Cardiff were unable to sign the targets their head coach wanted.Many fans have voiced their concern about a lack of squad depth, with only four players recruited at the Cardiff City Stadium this summer.But Barry-Murphy feels he has been backed in the transfer window and is pleased with the players at his disposal for a gruelling Championship season.There would be no better way for the Irishman to mark his latest Bluebirds achievement than to claim his first Championship win on Saturday.