Cardiff City's rise to the Premier League – in pictures

1993 Under Englishman Eddie May, Cardiff win Division Three (then the fourth-tier of English football), losing only one game at home all season Photograph: John Gichigi/Getty Images

1995 After May's departure in November 1994, the Welsh side are relegated back to Division Three. They spent just four weeks out of the drop zone all season Photograph: Jason Green/Action Images

1998 Since November 1994, Cardiff see seven managers come and go, only one of whom lasts more than a year in the job Photograph: Barry Batchelor/PA Archive/Press Association Images

1999 However, with Frank Burrows at the helm, the club are promoted back to the Second Division, having led the league for much of the second half of the season Photograph: Chris Lobina/Getty Images

2000 Unfortunately for Burrows and Cardiff, their stay in the third tier doesn't last long. They make an immediate return to the Third Division, finishing an agonising one point from safety Photograph: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

2001 Bobby Gould's short stay at the club is a successful one. He maintains the Cardiff yoyo, taking them straight back up to the Second Division Photograph: Ker Robertson/Getty Images

2002-3 A combination of Alan Cork and Lennie Lawrence steady the ship, leading the club to two consecutive play-off finishes, the second of which sees them promoted to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1985 Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

December 2006 Having failed to gain planning rights for a new stadium due to financial security fears, Sam Hammam agrees to a takeover by a consortium led by new chairman Peter Ridsdale, pictured here with former Labour leader Neil Kinnock Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

May 2008 After a series of mid-table finishes consolidate Cardiff's place in the newly-named Championship, the club under Dave Jones reach their first FA Cup final since 1927, losing 1-0 to Portsmouth in front of nearly 90,000 at Wembley Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

July 2009 After 99 years at Ninian Park, Cardiff officially open their new 26,000 all-seater Cardiff City Stadium with a pre-season friendly against Celtic Photograph: Alex Morton/Action Images

May 2010 Malaysian billionaire Vincent Tan (left) buys more than 35% of the debt-ridden club for £6m. The change sees Dato Chan Tien Ghee (right) succeeding Ridsdale as chairman, ending his controversial five-year reign Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Feb 2012 After two failed attempts to reach the Premier League via the play offs, Jones is replaced by Malky Mackay. Like his predecessor, Mackay takes his side to Wembley, where they are beaten on penalties by Liverpool in the League Cup final Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

2012 The Scot also leads his side to a third consecutive play-off finish, but falls at the same hurdle as Jones a year previously as his side lose to West Ham over two legs Photograph: Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Jun 2012 The club embark on a new and controversial investment and rebranding process, which includes changing the clubs home colours to red, a new crest and clearing their long-standing debts of around £30m Photograph: Harry Engels/Getty Images Europe

16 Apr 2013 Having led the Championship for 29 weeks of the season, Cardiff secure their long-awaited promotion to the Premier League against Charlton Photograph: Nick Potts/PA