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Cardiff City owner gives Malky Mackay the Christmas gift options of getting sacked or quitting

Dirty Tackle

Many adults don't get to choose their Christmas presents and end up receiving an ugly necktie or a toaster even though they don't eat toast or have necks. But this year, the BBC reports that Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan has been generous enough to give manager Malky Mackay the chance to choose his gift. The options: getting sacked or quitting.

Tan even went so far as to write a letter not unlike something from a disgruntled Santa Claus to a child accidentally placed on the naughty list. From the BBC:

Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay has been told by owner Vincent Tan to resign or he will be sacked.

In a letter emailed to Mackay on Monday, it is understood Tan listed in depth his grievances with the Scot.

Tan criticised 41-year-old Mackay at length in a range of areas, such as signings, transfer budgets, results on the pitch and style of play.

The Malaysian businessman also questioned the former Watford manager's record as a boss.

Though Mackay has successfully navigated the newly promoted club north of the relegation zone to this point of the season, Tan has already stated that he would make no money available for the January transfer window after accusing his manager and former head of recruitment Ian Moody of overspending last summer. Cardiff spent a club record £50 million during the last window even though Tan claims the budget he approved was £35 million.

As a result of this and other grievances as bizarre as Tan's penchant for wearing a Cardiff shirt as part of his business attire, the relationship between owner and manager has been strained for a while now. As the BBC's Jacqui Oatley points out, this handshake between the two says it all...

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Brooks Peck

is the editor of Dirty Tackle on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him or follow on Twitter!