Jay Bothroyd has issued a rallying cry to his former club, Cardiff City, urging them to set their sights on the Premier League after a stunning return to the Championship. The Bluebirds, who bounced straight back from relegation by securing automatic promotion from League One in the 2024-25 season, are now poised for a fresh challenge in the second tier.

Bothroyd, who played for Cardiff between 2008 and 2011, believes that what initially felt like a devastating blow has turned into a golden opportunity. "Seeing Cardiff go down to League One was devastating for me," the former striker admitted to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast. "But I look at it now as probably a good thing because they had time to rebuild—new management, new players." Under the guidance of Brian Barry-Murphy, Cardiff have been playing what Bothroyd describes as "a great brand of football," and he insists the club must now push forward with ambition.

"Cardiff are a big club," Bothroyd emphasized. "They can't be down at the bottom of the league. They have to be competing each season, whether it's for the play-offs to get into the Premier League or for automatic promotion. That's where Cardiff need to be."

The promotion also sets the stage for an electrifying season of Welsh derbies, with Cardiff set to face both Swansea City and Wrexham in the Championship. Bothroyd, who earned his only England cap during his time with the Bluebirds, is already looking forward to those clashes. "They were the best times, playing in the derbies against Swansea. It was just massive," he recalled. "Turning up at Swansea's stadium, the atmosphere in the crowd, it was unbelievable." He promised to "definitely be down there supporting the boys" when the rivalry reignites.

For Cardiff fans, the message is clear: after a year of rebuilding, the Bluebirds are ready to compete at the highest level once again. With a dynamic brand of football and a renewed sense of purpose, the journey back to the Premier League has only just begun.