Parry off to Preston

***News Update***

Paul Parry has agreed personal trems and will to sign for Preston on Monday after a medical. He will therefore miss today's pre-season against Valencia at the new Cardiff City Stadium.

It has taken awhile but it would seem that Paul Parry has finally decided his future is at Preston North End. The City player went up to Preston Monday for talks but was back at Cardiff the next day training.

He promised to keep in touch with Preston manager Alan Irvine has he thought over the move. It the reports are true he will be signing a three-year contract for a fee of £300,000, Cardiff with make some profit having paid £75,000 back in January 2004 to Hereford. While at Cardiff he become Welsh international but retried recently starting in 7 games. Irvine will be look to settle this quickly and Parry could play some part in Preston trip tomorrow to play Hibernian

It looked likely before the end of last season he could be move out as Cardiff City boss Dave Jones showed no compulsion to enter into new contract talks with Parry as he only has one year left on is present contract.

There is nothing official on the wires yet about the deal so it is a wait and see game. If Parry has gone Dave Jones will be looking to bring a replacement quick as the season kicks-off in 8 days for the City. I wish Parry all the best he was a good servant to Cardiff City and a City fan

Nathan Blake new Echo columnists

I named the South Wales Echo replacement for Dave (Gilo) Giles the other day, it is Nathan (Blakey) Blake confirmed today.

I was never his greatest fan while he was with Cardiff City when he had a bad day at the office he was a right stinker, but then he could turn it around with a display that could be mind blow. He did give me my all time favourite player football chant, “He’s black, he mean he robs you fruit machine Nathan Blake, Nathan Blake”. The chant stems from indents where apparently a policeman spotted someone on the roof of an amusement arcade, and said it looked like Nathan Blake, he player was then arrested for breaking into an amusement arcade it was a case of mistaken identity.

He has promised not to hold his punches with his and give his opinion, “If you can’t give a straight opinion there’s no point in saying anything at all!” he said in the Echo. His status has legend could take a hit like the reputation of Gilo who was a good professional football which was put aside by some Cardiff fans turned on him. Cardiff born, Cardiff fan and some so called fans called him a Jack (Swansea fan) because he played for them and didn’t agree with him. He and Jones have not always seen eye to eye from is time with Wolves and more recently with a few comment made last season. The stated he will be airing HIS views about what he see and will not shy away from upsetting whoever, it is the club that matters.

Blake will start his column on the Monday 10th August Blake said, “The Echo goes with Cardiff City the same way as having a Clark’s pie at half-time does. I’m really excited about the chance to write for the paper and pleased I’ve got the opportunity to get my views across about a club that has always been close to me heart.
“People who know me know I always speak my mind and I’m not afraid to criticise when it’s needed. I’ve got strong views about the club.
“But you’ve got to keep a cool head too. If Cardiff were brilliant I will say they were, if they were poor I will say that too. Not just for the sake of it. I’ve got to say why I feel the way I do.
“Things move on, football changes around the edges, but it is still 22 blokes, a ball and two goals,” said Blake.
“Whether it’s the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s or right now, the beautiful game will always be the beautiful game. You never lose the thrill of watching a game and for me Cardiff City is special because there’s that passion involved as well.
“But when I do go to a game now I try to sit back and enjoy it and analyse one team against another.
“The club is a step away from the Premiership, the promised land in terms of football.
“To be honest I don’t care if Dave Jones or Donald Duck is manager, we need to support who is in charge ahead of this campaign.
“The end of last season was very disappointing, but there is a fresh start now.
“When it comes to Jones, of course he is under pressure, he is always under pressure, but I don’t necessarily see this as a do-or-die season for him.
“In fact, if performances are good and the league finish respectable, even if they do miss out on the play-offs, I don’t rule out another season for him to give it another shot.
“With where the club is right now I believe the play-offs this season would be a bonus, just that. Let’s not get carried away.
“But make no mistake, the start of the season now is going to be vital for Jones. He needs a good start or things start to build very quickly.
“What I won’t be doing is getting into tit-for-tat exchanges with Jones. I have no need and anyway that’s not my style.
“As for Peter Ridsdale, well, he gets criticism, but I think some of it is unfair. Let’s not forget he has helped deliver the new stadium for the club.
“People put that down and say, ‘oh he was just there.’ Sure he was just there, but he just happened to be there when the new stadium was built. I think he deserves some respect for that.
“What we need now is for everyone to be pulling in the same direction.
“We will face enough challenges when we face the likes of Scunthorpe on the pitch on the opening day.”

He made 131 appearances for the Bluebirds, scoring 35 goals one being that scorcher against Manchester City that saw them crashing out of the FA Cup back in 1994. He when on to play for a number of clubs Sheffield United, Bolton, Blackburn and Wolves were at the time the currnet Cardiff City boss Dave Jones was manager. He also earned 29 caps for Wales, scoring four international goals.

How long before a new face replaces David Giles on the dartboard at the Bluebirds training ground.

>>>>> Full article on Walesonline

McCormack not for Pompey

Ross McCormack looks like he will be avaible for Saturday has it looks like he is going nowhere for now. After their earlier enquiry Portsmouth are not going to make a formal bid according to the newspapers as they look elsewhere.

The Cardiff City striker has expressed an interest in playing in the Premier League and was reported to have handed in a transfer request after a number of links to Premiership clubs. This was denied by the player and his agent who with McCormack claiming he was only reminding Chairman Peter Ridsdale of their 'gentleman's agreement' in his contract that stipulates that he can speak to any Premier League club who bid for his services.

Like with Joe Ledley Hull were the main suitors for his services if you believe the press but no offer has been made, Hull boss Phil Brown asked Cardiff their price and run to the hills complaining about the price of Championship players in general. The Pompey interest has been the close he has been to getting an offer. Peter Ridsdale will be hoping for a good gathering of scouts on Saturday to help with the clubs finances with Ledley and McCormack in the shop window.

Big game Saturday ... who will be captain

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones plans to use the last friendly of the summer on Saturday against Valencia has a warm-up for the first game of the new season when Scunthorpe visits the Cardiff City Stadium. Jones is likely to start the closest team which will kick-off the new Championship season against Valencia. The Spanish team will be no pushover and it will be a good to bring the pre-season games to an end with a good run-out. Cardiff has not lost a game so far his pre-season with the biggest game so far being the Celtic game with ended goal-less.

It looks like midfielder Joe Ledley will lose the captains’ armband to new signing centre-back Mark Hudson. Ledley has had an uneasy summer as he had to sit round while other looked to his future which has been up in the air over the summer. He can go for the right price and Chairman Peter Ridsdale would like to sell, manager Dave Jones knows he will lost the player if the right price for him, but Jones would like to keep him. Cardiff City has not received one offer for Welsh international but lots of rumours in the press mainly linked to Hull.

Ledley would like to prove himself in the Premier League and said he wants’ talks with the club about a new contract has he only has a season left on his old one. He could walk free next summer if no new contract is signed, that could mean the club missing out on millions. All Cardiff would get is some compensation of the player because he is under 24 years-old but not many selling club end up happy. Look at Motherwell they had a million pound offer from Wigan for Ross McCormack, but last summer he joined Cardiff on a free transfer, although the clubs would later agree on a compensation fee of £120,000.

Big game Saturday ... who will be captain

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones plans to use the last friendly of the summer on Saturday against Valencia has a warm-up for the first game of the new season when Scunthorpe visits the Cardiff City Stadium. Jones is likely to start the closest team which will kick-off the new Championship season against Valencia. The Spanish team will be no pushover and it will be a good to bring the pre-season games to an end with a good run-out. Cardiff has not lost a game so far his pre-season with the biggest game so far being the Celtic game with ended goal-less.

It looks like midfielder Joe Ledley will lose the captains’ armband to new signing centre-back Mark Hudson. Ledley has had an uneasy summer as he had to sit round while other looked to his future which has been up in the air over the summer. He can go for the right price and Chairman Peter Ridsdale would like to sell, manager Dave Jones knows he will lost the player if the right price for him, but Jones would like to keep him. Cardiff City has not received one offer for Welsh international but lots of rumours in the press mainly linked to Hull.

Ledley would like to prove himself in the Premier League and said he wants’ talks with the club about a new contract has he only has a season left on his old one. He could walk free next summer if no new contract is signed, that could mean the club missing out on millions. All Cardiff would get is some compensation of the player because he is under 24 years-old but not many selling club end up happy. Look at Motherwell they had a million pound offer from Wigan for Ross McCormack, but last summer he joined Cardiff on a free transfer, although the clubs would later agree on a compensation fee of £120,000.

McCormack bound for Portsmouth

Could Hull manager Phil Brown have competition in his interest in Cardiff City striker Ross McCormack, well maybe he has in the shape of Portsmouth.

Sky Sports news is suggest that Portsmouth boss Paul Hart has made an offer for McCormack, but there is nothing official. The South Echo believes Cardiff in the shape of chairman Peter Ridsdale was contacted today checking McCormack availability and the price. It will cost him £5m which has been advertised in the press for weeks now, but will their now be a bidding war, if so you can bet the first bid would be low.

Portsmouth’s sold Peter Crouch Monday to Tottenham so they have the money, £10m but in most the London based newspapers Hart is linked with 21 year-old Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic.

No decisson for Parry ....YET

One thing I love to see in a footballer is loyalty to your club and it’s good to see that Paul Parry has it. Cardiff and Preston have agreed a fee but he would like to stay with the Bluebirds.

Yesterday Parry was in Preston looking to his future and a possible move but came back to Cardiff and will continue negotiations with Preston North End manager Alan Irvine later today by phone. So the £300,000 transfer is up in the air.

Parry is back at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel and Country Club, Cardiff City training base today taking a full part in training getting ready for the Valencia game Saturday, if no deal is done with Preston. Parry only has a season left of his contract and could start looking for a new club in January, but that would be unlike with his commitment to Cardiff if he does stay I believe he will do anything for a new contract with his Cardiff City. Maybe he could outlive Dave Jones at The Cardiff City Stadium this season.

Hull cool on Ledley and McCormack

Hull City are still have trouble looking for new players especially a new striker after making umpteen offer, and is now blaming the transfer window. Hull boss Phil Brown is blaming the "ridiculous" transfer window for the club's failure to sign new player and the window just creates a desperate market pushing up prices has agents try to instigate bidding wars between clubs.

He is said to be interested in Cardiff City duo Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack but in the Hull Daily Mail he gives a insight to why no offer has been made, "The system needs to be revamped and the sooner the better because it's killing football. "If you can't get a Championship player for less than £5m, then the game has just gone crazy."

So Brown is not happy with the valuations Cardiff have put on their two players, of course if he was in Cardiff City boss Dave Jones position he would not be asking for £5 a player he would just give them away. It looks like any movement on any deal is on the backburner and it won’t help with Brown and Hull on tour in China. >>>>> Source of information

Squad Numbers

City players want him to stay

The whole Ross McCormack thing has split the fans down the middle and it could be an issue for the start of the season if the situation doesn’t change. No clubs have put a bid in on the player and to be honest, the price the club want for him £5m can’t see anyone paying that kind of money.

Today in the local press players have been falling over themselves to show the Cardiff City striker their support, fellow striker Michael Chopra is urging McCormack to stay at the Cardiff City Stadium sighting that in modern football you need at least four strikers and a squad rotation system. If anyone McCormack should listen to it is Chopra who can tell all about the Premier League and it’s not such a bed of roses’. At Sunderland Chopra suffered with some bad from on top of the rotation system at saw him benched more offer than not, miss out on regular football.
Chopra said in the South Wales Echo, “If you look at clubs in the Premier League, some of them have got four good forwards to choose from.
“If you want to go places as a team, the most important players are the strikers.
“Not everyone is going to play every game. You are going to be disappointed some weeks, but rotation and keeping you fresh is what it’s about in the modern-day game.
“I want Ross to remain – and so do the rest of the Cardiff players.
“Competition for places makes you more determined to play well to keep your spot. Ross’ presence will improve my game and help me get a few goals this season, so I’m hoping he remains.
“He scored more than 20 goals in his first season at this level, which was a good achievement, and would get close to that mark again if he was a Cardiff player this season.”
Defender Mark Kennedy has also come out in support of McCormack and said he also got the support of the rest of the City players. He said, “Competition for places is absolutely brilliant in my opinion.
“You want that from the back right the way forward. For me it is the only way a club can move forward. It is a sign of progress.
“I’m sure the manager would still like to bring in a couple more players, no doubt about it. I would imagine that by the end of August there will be a couple more brought in.
“But I think it is a case of the more the merrier.
“Competition will get that extra 10 per cent out of me and the guys who come in too.
“You get more out of the team and that is what it is all about. You have to have competition for places.
“Of course I would be very surprised if there was any player at any club who was not disappointed to be sitting on the bench. If you are happy to be on the bench then you should not be at the club in the first place, it is as simple as that.
“I will give 100 per cent this season. When the manager picks his team at the start of the season, if I am in it, brilliant, if I’m not, I will support the lads who are in it and I’m sure that goes for everyone else at Cardiff.
“I don’t know the ins and outs of what is happening with Ross. All I do know is that he is a fantastic player, a great lad and very popular in the dressing room.
“I do know that while he is at Cardiff City he will get 100 per cent support from me and I’m sure from all the other lads at the club. We can guarantee Ross will have our total backing.”

D-day for Parry

Will I stay or will I go, that the question Cardiff City player Paul Parry must decide.

Reported last week Cardiff gave permission for Parry to talk to another team with a view to a move which was later revelled to be Preston. He had the weekend to think over the move and even played for City in the friendly Saturday at Swindon and is today believed to be in Preston discussing terms.

That the weekend he said about the possible £300,000 move, “The clubs have agreed a fee between themselves so I’m going up for a chat.
“There are a lot of things to take into consideration. It is not just about me and it is certainly not about money. It is a hard decision I am going to have to make.
“To be honest it is 50/50 at the moment. It is a really tough decision.”

Parry has been rumoured to be one of the players Cardiff City boss Dave Jones was will to let go this summer but has always stated that no player goes unless he finds someone better. At the moment Jones as yet to make a purchase of a midfielder/winger to replace Parry if he was to leave. Jones is reported to have three players line up but funds look to be the problem or the lack of them.

Parry is not looking for a move and told the South Wales Echo, “I will be going up to Preston with an open mind and have a chat with them and listen to what they have got to see.
“But part of me wants to remain at Cardiff because I sense I’ve got unfinished business here. I had a poor season last year and I owe the people here something, I owe it to the fans to finish the job.
“I like playing for Cardiff.
“The fans are very special here.”

McCormack

CARDIFF CITY striker Ross McCormack last night broke his silence on why he wants to leave the club and said, “It looks to me like Chops and Jay will be starting up-front. That is fair enough, but obviously if that happens I’m going to be looking to leave because I’ve got to think about my place with the Scotland team,” said McCormack.
“With the World Cup coming up it’s a big time for me.
“Everyone thinks I’m a winger because I played there a few times last season and I’ve played there for Scotland.
“Yet I’ve only been playing as a winger since Chops arrived. I did not play out there for my previous club.
“I’m a striker. I’m here to score goals. I want to score as many goals as I can.
“But it’s football. If I was up against two strikers who weren’t very good then it would be different.
“I’ve got absolutely nothing against Chops and Jay. People are asking have I fallen out with them? But we get on really well. It is just a footballing decision.
“As far as I’m aware there have been no offers for me. Everyone knows I’m supposed to have handed in a transfer request, but it did not really happen.
“I had a phone call with the chairman and someone has leaked that to the media. Things have gone crazy since.
“I won’t be going to Celtic, but anywhere in England. People are saying Hull are interested, but they have not put a bid in.
“I would be interested in Hull and I’m sure there are a lot of Championship clubs too.
“But Hull have not affected my decision. It is just because I don’t see myself playing and I’ve got to leave.
“The chairman and the manager have said if the right offer comes in I can leave, but I’m a Cardiff player until I’m told differently.
“I’m not going to say I’m happy at Cardiff, but while I am here I am going to give it everything.” >>>>>> Full article in the Wales on Sunday

Some fans on the Mike Morris unofficial Cardiff City message board have been blaming Chairman Peter Ridsdale for the situation regarding Ross McCormack wish to leave. The accusation is that the Cardiff City striker to being forced for a fat transfer fee.

Technical is manager Dave Jones who is forcing him out because he is playing him out of his favourite position and because he doesn't want to play second fiddle to Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd.

Speaking to WalesOnline he said after the goal-less draw against Swindon, "It looks to me like Chops and Jay will be starting up-front. That is fair enough, but obviously if that happens I'm going to be looking to leave because I've got to think about my place with the Scotland team.
"With the World Cup coming up it's a big time for me. Everyone thinks I'm a winger because I played there a few times last season and I've played there for Scotland.
"But I've only been playing as a winger since Chops arrived. I did not play out there at my previous club Motherwell. I'm a striker. I'm here to score goals. I want to score as many goals as I can."

McCormack was booed by a section of City fans during the 0-0 draw with Swindon, "I'm upset by the fans reaction to be honest. They were chanting and there was some abuse. I expected it. I suppose I would be disappointed if I were a fan in this situation," said McCormack.

Parry off Monday

The team interested in signing Cardiff City’s Paul Parry is rumoured to be Preston North End after chairman Peter Ridsdale gave the player permission to talk. The Preston manager was at the Celtic game to run an eye over the Cardiff player. The press again have been talking of a possible bid for Parry but linked him with Doncaster but the manager moved quickly to say he had no contact with the player or the club.

Parry is reported to be considering the move and has promised to give Irvine an answer on Monday after he has talked over a move north with his family. The fee is a reported £300,000 and Parry would be Preston first summer signing.

Speaking in the South Wales Echo about last season Parry said, “One poor season out of four is not too bad when you look at it. This year I aim to prove my critics wrong.
“Certain sections of the fans were unhappy with me last season, and they probably had every right to be.
“But I know myself if I’m playing badly I will beat myself up about it”

Looking on the Preston messageboards they would be happy to see the Cardiff player join them but seem to expect him to go to Doncaster.

Agent has his say

The Ross McCormack spat is carrying on with the player’s agent Willie McKay saying the his player has not handed in a transfer request, only reminded the Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale of a gentleman’s agreement in his new contract to let him leave if the price is right.

Not one bid has been made for McCormack according to the club most of the transfer talk has been newspaper rumours with only Hull kinder saying they could be interested, but the Hull boss is saying he is looking around. Willie McKay said on the matter, “Ross was given a new contract by Cardiff as reward for his superb campaign last season when he scored 23 goals.
“When Ross signed the deal there was a gentleman’s agreement with Peter Ridsdale that Cardiff would sell him if a bid came in from a Premier League club that was agreeable with them.
“Ross didn’t actually submit a transfer request, he was just reminding Peter Ridsdale that he would like to be given the opportunity to talk to any interested clubs if they make a bid for him.
“I know there are some interested clubs in the Premier League and Ross is an ambitious person who wants to play at the highest level he can.”

Parry on the way out

The BBC website is reporting news that Cardiff City has agreed a fee with an unknown Championship club for Paul Parry.

In the last few days Parry has been linked with Doncaster Rovers who were rumours to be preparing a £500,000 bid. The next day the Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll has distanced himself from the claim and told the Doncaster Free Press, "We are always being linked with players but on this occasion there has been no contact between the two clubs." He has also been linked with Another of Cardiff’s rivals Championship Preston North End

Parry who signed from Hereford in 2004 for £75,000 and looked to have been a good buy put in some strange performances’ he win 12 caps for Wales while with the Bluebirds. Allow he was a midfielder he even had a stint playing up front but last season he really struggled to find his form and it was soon noticed by the fans with a section starting to give him a hard time.

Nothing official has been released but the South Wales Echo are suggesting Preston are leading the chase with a fee of around £300,000 much lower than the rumour earlier in the week. >>>>> FOLLOW LINK TO BBC STORY

McCormack wants out of Cardiff

Just weeks after signing a new four-year deal with Cardiff City last season top scorer Ross McCormack has unbelievably hand in a transfer request. The request is confirmed on the club official website.

He joined Cardiff City for the start of last season for a fee of only £130,000 for Motherwell. Joining Cardiff help he gained the eye of the Scottish manager and he soon was made Scottish international. He was top scorer with 23 goals 9 of which were penalties and became a terraces hero with the fans. He wants to leave if another club is interested he has made it clear most of the summer he wants to play in the Premier League and early in the summer he was being rumoured to be linked with a number clubs. Hull are the least but interest seem to be waning.

Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale said, "Ross McCormack telephoned me today to indicate that if another club came in for him he would wish to leave,"
"This is three weeks after signing a new four-year contract.
"I told Ross that we had not had any bids for his services and unless he knew of interest that we were unaware of, then he would remain a Cardiff City player.
"I wish to make it clear that if this is a method for any other club to believe that Ross would be allowed to leave Cardiff City 'on the cheap' this will not be the case.
"If Ross subsequently leaves Cardiff City it will only be if we receive an offer from another club that matches our valuation of the player."

This could well be a big mistake for the Cardiff City striker, the fans will not take kindly to this news and if he doesn’t more on before the start of the season he could find himself No1 target of the terrace boo-boys. >>>>> Official Statement from Cardiff City Website

Match Reports - Cardiff City v Celtic

Welsh choir opens proceedings, N’Guemo conducts the orchestra – The Herald

Cardiff city 0 - Celtic 0

Landy N'Guemo announced his arrival on the British stage last night with a solo performance which confirmed you do not have to spend millions to unearth real value. >>>>> FOLLOW LINK

Mowbray upbeat for Euro qualifier after Celtic draw – The Scotsman

Cardiff City 0 - 0 Celtic

TONY Mowbray insists Celtic are making good progress ahead of their Champions League qualifier with Dinamo Moscow in a week's time despite being held to a goalless draw by Cardiff City in last night's friendly. >>>>> FOLLOW LINK

Cardiff City settle into new home with solid display – The Western Mail

Cardiff City 0 - 0 Celtic

CARDIFF CITY’S new home will see better games than this and certainly a few more goals, but Dave Jones’ side can take heart from a solid display against the Scottish giants. >>>>> FOLLOW LINK

Only if the price is right

Cardiff boss Dave Jones says his opposite number at Hull Phil Brown knows the price it would take for the Bluebirds to sell Joe Ledley, and it means no cheap bargains to be had. It’s been thought at because Ledley only has a year left on his contract interested club could take advantage of the situation and bid low.

Phil Brown was at the Cardiff City Stadium last night on a scouting mission with Ledley on his mind and insists Hull target Joe Ledley will not be allowed to leave on the cheap despite only having a year left on his contract. Brown was Ledley lead out the Bluebirds and the player himself had a bit of a hit and miss game against Celtic with the game ending goal-less. “I saw Phil Brown before he came in – but I’ve no problem with that because he knows the price the club are asking for Joe.
“The chairman has said that already – if the price is right, he’ll go.”

Jones last night also had a pop at Ledley’s agent and said, “There’s no problem from us, but his agent has been trying to work the oracle a bit,” said Jones. “But, as far as I’m concerned, Joe has lost 12 months’ money because if the price is right he would still go.
“That’s what happened with Roger Johnson – he signed a contract but went when the price was right.”

Doncaster and Parry

There is a short three lined story in the Mirror today suggesting that Doncaster are interested in the Cardiff City player Paul Parry.

Last season was not a good one for the 28-year-old midfielder he was targeted by terraces boo-boy Paul Parry and it was expected that he would be off-loaned during the summer. Still Parry started most of the game last season making 46 appearances in all game and since joining back in 2004 from Hereford he played 214 plus game scoring 27 goals.

Allow Dave Jones the Cardiff boss has brought in a number of new faces to the defence but still has not bring in anyone to the midfield. Jones will not let anyone go unless he has a replacement lined up and everyone knows he wants two outfield players and a keeper.

If the paper has its fact right Cardiff City are looking for £500,000 for him.

Brown coming shopping????

Cardiff City has their official opening of their new stadium tonight with Celtic the opposition.

Among the crowd tonight it is being reported that Hull boss Phil Brown will be in attendance to run a eye over midfielder Joe Ledley and possible team-mate Ross McCormack has he is in the market for a striker . Dave Jones is on record has not wanting to sell either of his star players but also understand to position the club is in regarding finances the need to sell to finance the club.

This season Cardiff have sold defender Roger Johnson to Birmingham for a report £5m deal with payment staggered, but I looks like there is a need to sell more than the one player this season.

Cardiff value Ledley at £6m base on the fee Stoke were willing to last season for the player, but with Ledley now on the final year of his contract it’s unlikely he would command such a high fee has press reports are suggesting if the Hull boss is interested a bid around £4m could be for coming. Hull have been searching for a striker for a number of week and have been unlucky in their attempts were linked with Cardiff striker McCormack with a joint bid for both player of around £10m, but the price was just a rumour.

Both players have public stated a readiness to step-up to the top-flight football has will as Hull other scouts could be in attendance tonight, a bidding war would please chairman Ridsdale. Brown is on record has say, “Ledley and McCormack are players who have done very well in the Championship and, yes, we are interested”. Brown is taking his squad on a pre-season tour of China at the weekend and wants any new players in his team before they go on the trip if possible.

Ledley wants his future sort soon according to the player himself if he goes or stays there has been lots of talk surrounding talks between the club and the player or the lack of talks on the clubs side according to the player. Ledley wants to sign a new contract, but it looks like chairman Ridsdale is waiting to see what happening on the transfer front. The Welsh and Cardiff captain has been rumoured to have attracted the interest from other Premier clubs including Everton, West Ham and Stoke.

While Cardiff has only just recently gave McCormack new four year contract.

Jones and Ridsdale happy and united

There were reports at the weekend that there was a bit of a lovers tiff between Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale and manager Dave Jones over money for player. Jones would be happy if Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack stayed with the Bluebirds while Ridsdale wants to reduce Jones squad before bringing in the three more players who Jones believes are need.

The only way to bring in some money would be to sell one or maybe both of Cardiff bankable players, Ledley and McCormack with prices on their heads of at least £5m each if you can believe the paper talk. Hull have been linked with them but they are busy in the transfer market buying or linked to recently just about anyone but the City duo. He has been uneasy with his squad being cherry-picked by clubs, but knew it is the only way to push the club forward.

Dave Jones told the BBC website,"There's no rift with me and the chairman which was put out, there's nothing like that," Jones said.
"There's no problem. I know the parameters that I have to work with at this football club."

Carling Cup crisis

I noted the Carling Cup clashed with Welsh internationals on the day of the draw and have been waiting for the fixture to be shifted, but there has been on news strangely. Today the reason was revealed that the game could not be moved because during the summer the League club chairman voted to accept the clash of fixtures if against internationals day when involving the Carling Cup.
That means the Carling Cup game against Dagenham & Redbridge on the 11th August will go ahead even if Cardiff players are called up to play for their country. It puts Cardiff at a disadvantage because of the number of player who could be called up while the rest of the League clubs have few internationals in their squads.
It will course a major problem for Cardiff City boss Dave Jones and could ignite the old conflict of club- versus-country with senior squad are playing a friendly away to Montenegro and the U21 have a UEFA Under 21 Championship match at Wrexham against Hungary both game are on August 12th. It not just Wales, with a squad full of Scots Jones as to contend with Scotland also playing a imported World Cup Qualifier away to Norway at could see David Marshall, Kevin McNaughton, Chris Burke, Gavin Rae and Ross McCormack all in Scotland’s squad. Jones will also lose Joe Ledley who will surely be called up to the Wales squad by John Toshack with a chance some of the younger City player’s being called up into the Under 21’s.
The biggest headache for Dave Jones will in with his keeper Marshall is likely to play for Scotland in a World Cup qualifier against Norway and Peter Enckelman should be in Finland’s squad for their match against Sweden. That would leave Cardiff without a senior goalkeeper but for teenager Erwin Sak who is set to leave the Bluebirds all that is left is a youth academy keeper.
Dave Jones on the subjurt said, “Every Championship club is in this situation – and there could be a fair number going out of the competition.
“We are likely to be left without a senior goalkeeper – and a high number of outfield players.
“It’s been agreed by club chairmen as a one-off and there is nothing we can do to change it.”

The UB40s v Cardiff City

Cardiff play their last game of a short Portuguese tour Saturday kick-off 11am before returning to Cardiff for the build-up to the official opening of the new Cardiff City Stadium next Saturday against Scottish giants Celtic.
Tomorrow’s game is slightly unusual has the Bluebirds will the playing the unemployed, that is a President's Select team made up of Portuguese players without clubs. The credit crunch has hit Portuguese with some teams going bust mainly in the lower leagues and teams downsizing their squad right through their ranks. The players are hoping to catch the eye of any attending coaches at the match and maybe a few of them will catch the attention of City boss Dave Jones.
With these players, having something to prove it could be a tough game for Cardiff. Squad options for the game look to be ok was no reported injuries, four of the squad played the full 90 minutes against Fatima Wednesday night, goalkeeper David Marshall and outfield players Mark Hudson, Peter Whittingham and striker Jay Bothroyd they should be on the bench for this game.

Jones v Ridsdale ????

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is today asking Chairman Peter Ridsdale to show some courage and back him to build a promotion-winning squad according to the South Wales Echo. To do this Jones would want to bring in at least three new players two midfielders and an extra striker but the obstacle is money and the lack of it.
Ridsdale however would like to move out a few players and sell Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack the only players that are generating transfer interest both players could bring millions into the club if one or the other was to go. He has kept a tight rein on the money since he joined the club selling to fund the arrival of new papers. Having sold Roger Johnson Cardiff have brought in four new faces plus the record fee of £3m paid to bring Michael Chropa, allow the money is spread over a number of payments. Ridsdale throw concern out of the window once before while Chairman of Leeds United, high wage bill, big name transfer and it all come down around his head as it all went wrong.
Dave Jones would like to keep both Ledley and McCormack who rumoured to be subject to a possible £10m bid from Premier League Hull City but both Jones and the club would like to tie-up Ledley with a new contract has he only has a year left on his current one. It’s not long before the season kick-offs with a home game against Scunthorpe and Jones wants to get is sqaud together he knows the players he wants and told Ridsdale and now just waiting on permission to move forward.
Speaking in the South Wales Echo Dave Jones said “ I want three more players in and the chairman knows who there are.
“If I can bring three in, then Cardiff City will have one heck of a squad for the new season.
“I don’t want to lose the three I have asked for. Does the chairman have the courage to go for it?
“We have to stop selling our best players at some stage. I can’t keep building if we keep selling.
“We keep knocking on the door because we have been able to find players we can develop.
“This club has evolved so much. It’s like a new club and it’s taken two and a half years.
“The next step is being able to keep our big players. Promotion to the Premier League would do that. That would take us to the next level.
“I want to build. I want this squad to grow stronger, but I keep having the legs taken from under me when we have to sell players. Yes, that hurts.
“One factor at Cardiff City is expectation levels for a club who had done nothing for years. Expectations – and yet we still sell our best players.
“Our priority is still promotion. I want it badly and I want it yesterday.”

Klimpl goes back to Motherwell

Dave Jones has released Slovakian midfield international Maros Klimpl after an unsuccessful trial period with the Bluebirds. Klimpl played a half in Cardiff’s 1-0 victory over Chasetown and came on in the second in last night 1-0 beating of Portuguese club Fatima to score the only goal of the game. He only was joining for a week’s trial but won an extension until the day
It same surprising to go to all the trouble of taking him on the Portugal tour if Cardiff City boss the Dave Jones was unsure if he was the right player for the job. After the Chasetown game he said about the Slovakian international "He still wants to impress… it doesn't matter how old he is or how many internationals he's got behind him.
"We'll let him relax around us and see what happens from there.
"He can put himself about, his yellow card count in Scotland last year… he's got to be a lot calmer because down here the players will all be quicker and sharper.”
Klimpl spent last season on loan at Motherwell from his Danish club FC Midtjylland, he was hoping to stay in British football, at the time he joined Cardiff both Championship Plymouth and SPL Aberdeen were said to the interested in him.
It will mean Dave Jones will have to concentrate on finding some new blood for is midfield before the start of the new league season which is only 23 days away. Jones has said in the past he was looking for up to three to four new faces to add to his squad.

Ledley still a Bluebird

Cardiff City has taken Joe Ledley on the tour to Portugal killing all the rumours of Stoke ready to buy him, hot news last week he was hours from signing for them. There are only 18 days left of the transfer window it could be clubs are holding back to see what will happen. Last summer Stoke put in a late bid the day before the transfer deadline which was turned down and Cardiff boss Dave Jones has said this week that they are hoping to keep him but even today there is more speculation about him this time linked to Hull who has an interest in striker Ross McCormack.
The Hull City boss Phil Brown speaking to BBC Radio Humberside said about the Ledley rumour, "We've got to be careful what we say because deals so far have gone by the wayside."
"We haven't put a bid in or anything like that. There's talk that Everton are in for him, if that's the case we wouldn't stand a chance."
So far, no one as made an approach for the Welsh international Ledley just rumour after rumour about this club or that club putting in offers. Cardiff City want Ledley to sign a new contract because with only a year left on this old contract mean come January him could negotiate his own deal with a new club, which would mean no transfer fee which last season was has high as £6m. The Cardiff boss said, "We haven't started 'the silly week' as we call it in football because everybody is seeing what's around, what they can get before they let people go, and we're not different to them.
"But we've got to be careful. We can't let everybody go.
"We don't want Joe to go - we want Joe to sign an extension to his contract and see where that leads us.
"There's still been no enquiries for Joe at the moment. You get lots of whispers and everything else, but we want him to stay and we're hoping that no-one will come for him.
"Joe is a good pro. He'll get his head down and he'll work hard again."
Ledley has one year remaining on his current contract.

City on Tour

Cardiff City are on tour in Portugal after the collapse of their original tour to the Portuguese island of Madeira for the Madeira Festival of Football with Premiership team Blackburn and two local clubs Maritimo FC and Nacional FC taking part.
Manager Dave Jones puts a lot of importance's in a pre-season tour for team bonding so the club quick arranged some new opposition. The team will be staying in four star hotel and golf resort near Cascais and will be playing Fatima on Wednesday a second division team from the Portuguese League and then the Portuguese President’s team on Saturday.

Estádio Municipal de Fátima,Fátima,Portugal
(Capacity: 1,545)

Battle of the Keepers

With the No 1 goalkeepers shirt up for grabs old boy Peter Enckelman is more than prepared for the fight for the shirt with new signing David Marshall. Enckelman was battling with injury last season that saw Cardiff City boss Dave Jones use three other keepers last season.
Marshall on the other hand played a full season with his old club Norwich but it was a tough one fighting off relegation and they failed in the end. Both played a half in the Chasetown friendly last Friday and will be looking to shine in the rest of friendlies to be between the posts for the opening game of the season against Scunthorpe at the Cardiff City stadium.
Enckelman talking to the South Wales Echo said, “Me and David are getting on well. Whoever is going to be playing I just hope they do well and I’m sure David feels the same way.
“Both of us will be fighting for that starting place, but the important thing is that Cardiff City as a team are doing well.
“We both want to play of course. I have to think I want it more than him, but it is up to the manager to decide.
“I know for sure that neither of us are going to make it easy for the manager. Whoever does play I’m sure they will do a good job.”

City beat Chasetown

Cardiff City have played there very first game in the new stadium and picked up a nice little 4-0 victory over non-league Chasetown. It is pre-season and the results are meaningless, but you still like to win them for how me it is all about the team and how they are playing and the new faces.
There were a lot of new faces on show has Cardiff City boss Dave Jones played nearly two different teams in each half. The new goalkeeper Dave Marshall who good with little much to do, trialists Maros Klimpl was on show has Dave Jones continues to check him out with the view of signing the player. The new signing from Charlton Mark Hudson he took the captain’s which could indercated he could be a big part of Dave Jones plans for the new season.
There was some history to be made the first goal scored in the new stadium and Dave Jones looked to be giving a crack to one of his three main strikers, he start with Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra, and Ross McCormack. It was Bothroyd 20 minutes into the game who was the history maker Mark Kennedy crossed the ball for Bothroyd head home the first goal. Chopra got the booby prize of scoring the second goal just before half time
Half time City 2 Chasetown 0

See Cardiff goal on this link from Sky Sports News below

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid13706332001?bctid=1806217383

Dave Jones made many changes for the second half in fact only Ross McCormack started from the first half team and new signings Gerrard and Quinn got their chance to show the fans what they were bringing to the club. It is difficult to say how the new signing will do in a full on competitive match playing in pre-season friendlies but Gerrard and Quinn looked ok, it was left to two of the young members of the Cardiff squad to show there metal. Josh Magennis, an 18-year-old from Bangor, Northern Ireland, who join the Bluebirds as a goalkeeper but now seen as a striker scored the third goal and could, have scored two in the night blasting home from close range.
The last goal of the evening was scored by one of Dave Jones up and coming youngsters Adam Matthews with minutes left in the game put the ball in the back of the net. It was a good workout and the squad is now off to Portugal on a pre-season tour.
Full time City 4 Chasetown 0
Attendance was a poor 5,270 but in will be all change for the next pre-season friendly at the Cardiff City stadium, Celtic are the visitor to official open the ground.

Feeney injured

Warren Feeney will not be going anywhere soon according to the club he is injured and it is the same problem Roger Johnson had last season.

The hip injury was found out during a medical at Leeds according to the South Wales Echo putting an end to is possible transfer and now he will need surgery. He has been talking to a number of clubs about a move since leaving Dundee United where he spent last season on loan, in the last few days he has been linked to Grimsby and Charlton.

He has a year left on his three-year contract and during the last two seasons spent most of his time on loan or injured. Chairman Peter Ridsdale said, “Medical staff tells us it’s exactly the same problem Roger Johnson had last season.
“Warren is back with us and will have surgery to sort out his hip. He’ll be back to 100 per cent in a short time.”

Cardiff were hoping to get striker Feeney offer the wage bill with manager Dave Jones looking for a new striker to join Jay Bothroyd, Ross McCormack and Michael Chopra. It would be very unlikely that he will finish his last season out with the Bluebirds and is more than likely to be loaned out again when he is fit or maybe he will find a new club in January.

Dave Jones interveiw in the Guardian

Dave Jones gave a nice interview to the Guardian Small Talk Series today, can say I like his taste in music much.

FOLLOW LINK

Player linked

New day, another player link with manager Dave Jones and Cardiff City, and he is not a Scot but English born Cypriot. The named player is winger/midfielder Jason Demetriou who is plying his trade with Leyton Orient with the South Wales Echo leading the story.

If it is true, he will not come cheap with Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn looking for £750,000 for him. Dave Jones will not be alone if he is truly interest in the player has a host of other Championship club have expressed their interest. Newly relegated and Championship new boys Newcastle in the chase but they a in the middle of a buy-out and are manageress, Plymouth and the Championship rich boys are in for a look. New Division 1 teams Charlton and Norwich City are also watching from a far, but they are unlikely to be in with a chance.

He came through the ranks at Leyton Orient scored nine goals in 122 first-team appearances since making his debut in October 2005 for Leyton Orient. He is also an international player and has three senior caps for Cyprus. With four new players signed and Michael Chopra there are still a rumored two or three players midfield and one more striker if Dave Jones is to fill is quota for this summer. Dave Jones says: “We are still working to bring players in. We are keen to strengthen and I’d love to have everybody in by now, but other clubs are waiting to ensure they can sign players they want before they release others.”

Dennehy at Hereford on loan

One of Cardiff City invisible signings of manager Dave Jones central defender Darren Dennehy is off to pastures new and has signed for League two club Hereford United on loan until January with the possibility of it becoming a transfer, Dennehy is pre-season training with Hereford.

Dennehy join Cardiff last summer after turning down a offer a new contract offer from his then club Everton. He wanted first team football and thought a transfer to Ninian Park he would have a better chance. However, it just did not work out for with it was a season in the stand with a few chances to sit on the bench but he did play one second for the Bluebirds. That be time he was praised by the manager and chairman of Cardiff for putting a chance of first team football before spending time in a Premiership reserve team, chairman Peter Ridsdale said at the time, “We have had talks with Everton and the player.
“He should be with us for the start of pre-season training next week.”

He was loaned out to Hereford but his bad luck followed him to Edgar Street making just three appearances he returned to Ninian Park due to illness. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Dennehy always looked to be on the way out this summer either on loan for the season and let out, especially with Cardiff boss Dave Jones signing three new defenders with possibility of some others to join according to newspaper talk. He could not be the only one on the way out with a few others likely to join him.

Latest Championship Betting

Most of the bookies have Cardiff City place just outside the play-off spot, long way to go yet.

(Click on Picture to enlarge)

BBC must wake-up football is the game

Cardiff City will be playing at least one game live on the BBC next season how that the BBC have the rights to show 10 Championship game live next season. That the moment the Bluebirds will have their League game against Nottingham Forest shown live with the game been moved from a Saturday kick-off to Sunday with a 2pm kick-off.

I welcome the fact that live football is back on terrestrial television but it would seem there will no Football League highlights show, unlike for the Premier League who have Match of the Day Saturday night and a repeat on Sunday morning with Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night. I find it madding that they cannot put together a show, why BBC Wales cannot put something on, well what do you expect from BBC Wales Rugby.

So what can we expect for the BBC next season, highlights of goals on the web, maybe of five-minute mention on Football Focus with some highlights on Match of the Day 2 if you. Has the BBC Wales they are ‘going to the blankets’ and into bed with their rugby buddies leaving football out in the cold even the Wales on Saturday results show was axed just before the end of last season and that show was shared with all other Welsh sports.

A BBC Wales spokesman said early in the year, “We can confirm that Wales on Saturday will come to an end at the close of this season. “However, we will extend coverage of all the latest sporting news – including dedicated football coverage every week – through a longer run of the popular Sport Wales programme on Friday nights.
“From the autumn, football fans will also be able to catch up online with an enhanced website including video highlights from Swansea City and Cardiff City matches in the Coca-Cola Football League.
“Saturday’s sports coverage and results will continue to be available on TV from Wales Today and Newyddion, on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru in Sportstime and Camp Lawn, online and on Ceefax.
“BBC Cymru Wales is committed to providing comprehensive sports coverage across radio, TV and online, including hourly bulletins on radio and unrivalled sports online sites in English and in Welsh.
That means few minutes on Wales Today throughout the week and the same on the popular Sport Wales show
The first four Championship games to be shown live are.......

West Brom v Newcastle Aug 8th at 5.30pm
Ipswich v Newcastle Sep 26th
Derby v QPR Oct 24th
Cardiff v Nottingham Forest Nov 1st

The other six will be announce later in the season with reports a top of the table clash will the shown Christmas/New Year.

Cardiff after Miller signature – who knows

According to Irish website, eleven a side Cardiff City are interested in Republic of Ireland midfielder Liam Miller. He is without a club since the end of the season when he parted company with QPR the report states the Bluebirds are leading the chase but Sheffield Wednesday, and Premier League new boys Burnley are interested in him to.

Miller has had an interesting career he joined Celtic has a youth player in 1997 was there for seven years and made his debut in 2000. He had a six-month loan spell with Danish football club AGF Aarhus during the 2001–02 season making 18 appearances and by the end of his time at Celtic July 2004 he made 28 appearances scoring two goals he has suffered a long term injury limiting his appearances .

He left Celtic for Manchester United after signing a pre-contract agreement in January 04 upsetting the Celtic but the move saw him clicking his heels outside the first team he took a loan offer to join Leeds United in Nov 05 for three months that was extended until the end of the season and he play 28 games scoring one. On joining back up with United, Alex Ferguson made clear that Miller was not part of plans. A free move in Aug 06 to Sunderland was the next move where he become a first regular paying some 57 games in two and half season before he fall out with the then Sunderland manager Roy Keane placed him on the transfer list on 27 Feb 2008 due to a 'lack of discipline' and 'poor timekeeping'.

In 2009, Sunderland received interest from Queens Park Rangers expressing to secure a loan deal Miller who signed a permanent contract until the end of the season for an undisclosed fee. There are many names being link with Cardiff and Dave Jones is in the market for some strength in midfield so we just have to wait and see.

SPL = A transfer barging

Come on up if the price is right and Cardiff City manager Dave Jones likes to shop up north so much so he gave an interview to the Daily Record newspaper about his fondest for players from Scottish clubs. He admitted it was because they are cheap, value for the money and said he will continue to shop in the SPL if he cannot find the right players.

There are now six Scotsman in the Cardiff City dressing room to second biggest contingent after the English but at the rate David Jones is going they will not be for long. It is a long way from the crazy ex-Chairman Sam Hammam talk of a Welsh team full of Welsh players he was sprouting on about when he first took over the club all those years ago.

The latest signing Paul Quinn will be joining Ross McCormack, Chris Burke, Kevin McNaughton, Gavin Rae and David Marshall the Cardiff boss said, "We look for players in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland - all over the place. The way the market is at the moment one of the best places to pick up players is Scotland, where you get real value for money.
"Every player I've brought down from Scotland hasn't disappointed me - the Scots guys have never let me down.
"They've all turned out to be good players so you keep looking in the same areas.
"In the 1970s and 80s all the top teams in England had a number of Scotsmen in their teams and we have seen a gradual shift back to that.
"There's a healthy contingent of English players at Cardiff but there seems to be a great deal of pride in the Scots guys who come here.
"I don't know why Cardiff have so many Scotsmen in our team but when guys come down and see a few familiar Scots faces in the dressing room that helps them settle in straight away.
"The Scots lads are no bother and they are a fantastic bunch of players.
"The camaraderie in the dressing room is great. We don't have cliques. We all mix well and we don't have the Scots in one corner and the English and Welsh boys in another."
"We're delighted Paul decided to join us and I look forward to him strutting his stuff here.
"Celtic were sniffing around Paul for a short time but that didn't materialise and he got fed up waiting so decided to sign for Cardiff.
"It's not going to be easy. He definitely has his work cut out to become a regular and he knows he has to work hard.
"I don't think Paul will be the last player to come into our club from north of the border.
"If we find a good player in Scotland we will try to entice him to come down here and try his luck with Cardiff.
"Players like Glenn Loovens have sampled life here and gone on to sign for Celtic. That tells me we must be doing something right."