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The first bit of transfer activity under Mick McCarthy is set to be completed within the coming days
Greg Cunningham is to join his former club Preston on loan until the end of the season and might well have played his final match for Cardiff City.
It was thought that Cunningham might get a reprieve under McCarthy, who knows him from his days managing Republic of Ireland and even called him up to the squad in October 2019, however it appears his time at Cardiff City is now over.
Cunningham's contract is up at the end of the season and it is understood the Bluebirds have already held talks with first-choice left back Joe Bennett over a new deal.
The club also hold high hopes for exciting academy product Joel Bagan, and allowing Cunningham to leave would create a clearer pathway to the first team for the 19-year-old.
"Greg is going to Preston," Mick McCarthy said after the match.
"I've got Joel Bagan and I've got Joe Bennett, so I am a bit overloaded on left backs.
"I'm also bringing Ciaron Brown back from Livingston, because I'd like to see him, he has got a year's option and he is in the last year of his contract.
"I want to see him and what he has to offer, because he is a left-sided centre back come left back. My chief scout who I have had for years, one of my best mates, he watches the teams in Scotland, and the first thing he said to me was, 'Eh, you've got a lad up here and you ought to bring him back'.
"So, that's just what I'm doing."
Brown is currently on his third loan spell up at Livingston and has started to impress of late, scoring and assisting in a 2-2 draw with Celtic.
He has been a key cog in the wheel up at the Toni Macaroni Arena, having played 17 times in all competitions both at centre back and at left back.
Cardiff signed Cunningham, who turns 30 at the end of this month, from Preston for £4m ahead of their last season in the Premier League, but it never truly worked out for him in the Welsh capital.
He played second fiddle to Bennett in his debut season before heading out on loan to Blackburn Rovers last term.
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