Ridsdale gets the ’Vote of Confidence’

In football as a rule if you are a manager and your chairman gives you the dreaded ’Vote of Confidence’ you go home and tell the wife to start packing and look up your local Job Centre. Well can it work the other way around when a manager gives the chairman the ‘vote of confidence’.

Manager Dave Jones is supporting the embattled Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale in his time of need. With about 99.9% of the fans want to see the back of Ridsdale, he needs all the friends he can find at Cardiff City these days.

In a way Jones as to stand firm with the chairman as Ridsdale as done it time and time again for his manager who has himself felt the backlash from the Cardiff fans who regularly call for his sacking.

Dave Jones talking to the Wales on Sunday said, “I can’t change my attitude towards him as a person whatsoever – I know him a little better than many other people.
“He is trying everything to sort out the problems.
“We can’t bring in players and he feels he has let me down, but I will help him by keeping it going on the football side until the investment needed comes in and we can get the results we want.
“The board put out a statement and I would have liked his fellow directors to be alongside him when he was at the press conference.
“He has come out and apologised. I don’t know what else he can do except keep trying to bring investment in and get the club back on the track he felt it was going down before.
“Personally, I don’t feel let down. I asked fans to give their money for season tickets because I felt it was going on players and gave my list of those I wanted to the board.
“Circumstances have changed and it means the money I felt I would get for players has to go towards helping other areas within the club.
“That’s disappointing for everybody. It’s disappointing for Peter Ridsdale, who can’t do what he would like to happen.
“His past reputation infringes on this a little. You never get rid of that and I know better than anybody about that.
“Peter has delivered a lot to this football club, including a new stadium people felt would never be delivered.
“But what do we do? Lie down or come out fighting. I hope he delivers what he says he will.
“There is no doubt everybody at this club, from top to bottom, is doing their best for Cardiff City. There is no hidden agenda. Nobody has taken money out or is fiddling the football club. Nobody is trying to tear the club apart.
“We are all doing our best. And everybody here is supporting Peter Ridsdale. Otherwise he would not still be there. We must continue that support and stay behind him.
“We hope everything people have promised comes to fruition. The chairman has told me that in the short term it looks very, very bad, but in the long term it will benefit this football club in a big way. I hope that all rings true because at this moment everybody is really low.
“We still have to put a team out and remember why we are here – to take this club forward.”

Hitler hates Peter Ridsdale

HeHe

Will anyone go before teatime tomorrow

The January transfer window closes at 5pm tomorrow and the best outcome for Dave Jones and Cardiff City fans is that there are no phone calls or agents dropping by for a chat. We can’t afford to lose one player allow chairman Peter Ridsdale could be up for the call in his desperate search for money to pay the taxman and other bills.

They have been rumours of interest in striker Ross McCormack from Celtic but it looks like paper talk, but that has not stopped the player coming out say he would love to join a team he supported since he was a boy. McCormack told the Sunday Mail: "I'm happy at Cardiff and focusing on getting the club into the Premiership.
"But everyone knows I'm a massive Celtic fan. I had a season ticket for Parkhead and always said I'd like to play for them at some point. Going there would interest any player.''

He was in the same place in the summer with Hull City linked to him but they were not interested in paying the asking price believed to be £5million.

Michael Chopra has not been link to Ipswich officially but manager Roy Keane when asked about the rumour started on an unofficial website he said, "Chops is a very, very good striker. Whether our club can afford him on his wages remains to be seen." Does that mean they are planning an offer could they afford him but why would the City striker join a team just above the relegation spot.

There are a few other gems at the club to we need to be care of losing, defender Adam Matthews he has had the rare reviews and now has a host of Premier League clubs sending scouts out to watch him and he could soon be join by another youngster midfielder Aaron Wildig. Wildig has made a string of steady performances since moving up to the first team squad. Of course, there is Jay Bothroyd who has been a colossus in attack, hard working and contributing seven goals plus a couple in the Cups. He has had is transfer rumours the big one was Aston Villa also there was the one from the West but is that worth talking about.

Are there any bargains at the Cardiff City Stadium?

The late, late, late show

Another late, late goal helped the Bluebirds on to a 2-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers. In was the classic game of two halves, Chopra gave Cardiff the first half lead a half with a hat full of chances. Chopra miss two sitters, which were much easier than the one he scored, he could have easily walked off half time with a hat trick. Both McCormack and Bothroyd could have added to the half-time lead.

In the second half, it was all Doncaster as the visitors up their game looking for the equalizers in the first half they could handy put a pass together but now they were stroking the ball across the pitch. They were stretching the Bluebirds who were defend deeper and deeper and Cardiff fans were see more ball hoof up the field. It was not long before the visitors got the goal they were chasing in the 65 minute and to be honest they deserved it.

Straight after the goal City boss, Dave Jones made his first change taking off Rae to send on Blake and with Rovers looking for the lead as Cardiff were chasing around the pitch when they did get a chance the ball would be push out to the wings were Burke and McCormack crossing in a lot of ball. Cardiff were having nothing like the chances they were in the first half while Rovers although holding a lot of the ball the City keeper was not overly challenged.

Jones made a double Substitution with around 13 minutes to go, Kennedy was off replaced by the fit again McNaughton and Burke who had a good game was replaced Taiwo a bit of a surprise. The game was looking to be end for a draw and with the way the game most would have been happy with that, however it was not to be there was one more goal in the game. It came from a scramble in the Rovers penalty area, from a corner the ball the ball found the back of the net. It was unsure who score at first was in Chopra or Bothroyd in the end it was Bothroyd, 2-1 and three points a good day’s work when it looked like City would have to settle for one.

It has to be said the fans were great today giving their full backing to the team.

Cardiff City team v Doncaster

Marshall
Kennedy Gyepes Gerrard Matthews
Burke Rae Whittingham McCormack
Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes
Enckelman, McNaughton, Quinn, Capaldi, Taiwo, Blake, Feeney

The rumour doing the round was at Ross McCormack would not be playing today as a move to Celtic was on the cards. With him in the squad of the game it is unlikely to club would risk him getting injured so the rumour of a move to Scotland is unlikely. McNaughton makes the bench after his return to fitness.

Have the 7th Calvary rode in to save the Bluebirds.

Looks like the Bluebirds will get the go ahead to sell of the land earmarked for the hotel the South Wales Echo is reporting. If true there is only a short space of time that this deal will be helpful because of the winding up order due on 10th February, if the bill is not paid it will be more than likely the club will be wound-up and that will mean administration.

I can see the taxman being happy that £3million was raised by the club in season ticket sale and they did not any of the money, or have they because no one is telling us the fans. I have no idea where the money went.
Council leader Rodney Berman said he can see no reason that the proposal from Cardiff City wouldn’t go through.

Mr Berman said at a press conference today: “I have every expectation we will take the decision to progress with this on Tuesday.
“Some of the details are still being worked through but all the issues of concern we might have had we’ve been talking through with the club and getting satisfactory answers.
“I can’t see anything that’s going to prevent us getting an agreement.”

The deal will see the council get back 40% of the sale revenue through deferred rental payments from the Cardiff City Stadium. Mr Bensaid the deal guarantee construction of the House of Sport will start within three months.

Easter Monday game live on the BBC

Cardiff City will be travelling to Nottingham Forest on Easter Monday and the game is be televised live on the BBC with a new kick-off time of 5:15pm.

That is moment the game would be a top of the table clash as Forest are in second place while the Bluebirds are in fourth place. But who knows what the future will bring will the game still be a top of the table clash that the BBC are banking on.

Honesty would help

Cardiff City Director Steve Borley posted a message on the Cardiff City.com messageboard (see link below) asking for support at this time of unrest among the fans directed mainly at Chairman Peter Ridsdale.

I can see his point the club are in the middle of takeover talks the last thing you want to show a negative side surrounding the club. There is to be a Demonstration this Saturday of the Doncaster game at 5pm outside the main Entrance as fed-up fans will call for the head of Peter Ridsdale. I can see the fans point has well we are all angry at the lack of transparency at the club.

All this could have been avoid, well the majority of it if Peter Ridsdale would be honest and just tell us what is going on fans are not asking for trade secrets, just the basic facts. Where is all the money going?

Steve Borley wrote,
"I urge supporters to be calm because the eyes are on us and the last thing we need is to give the impression we are too hot to handle
"I understand the frustrations and anger amongst the fans but we need to show our passion is a positive thing and not negative. There is genuine interest in the club and we need your help to foster it. We need to get behind the team the manager and the club in the same way we did on the Leicester game where I believe you were responsible for the third and fourth goals.
"I called for calm before that game and thank you for the response. I never dreamt that in my lifetime I would ever see a fixture list where the two games after Saturday would be Newcastle and Chelsea. I urge you to keep the faith."
And later in the thread said
“The board are working hard to resolve the tax issue with the revenue. If we didn’t think we had a chance to resolve it we would be duty bound to call in the administrators and I am confident we will find a way through.”

Cardiff just cannot afford to go into administration or look to be heading in that direction, why buy the club if you wait a few weeks and get it on the cheap from the administrators. Based on today’s league table the loss of 10 points would see the club drop from 4th to 15th on one swoop. When will he paid the tax bill.

See thread on Cardiff City.com messageboard

Can the City Council save the Bluebirds

Cardiff make the front-page of the South Wales Echo with banner headlines ‘BLUEBIRDS ASK COUNCIL FOR £2M LIFELINE’ on see it my first thought was Chairman Peter Ridsdale was asking Cardiff City council for a loan.

However, after reading the article the club are asking the council to authorise an urgent sale of land earmark for a hotel and has planning permission. The sale could raise almost £2m, which could help pay the taxman. The council plan to hold a meeting next Tuesday to discuss the clubs request and if they agree according to the paper it would leave the club six working days to raise the money from the land.

It will not be an easy request has the money from the sale of the land was earmarked to go toward the ‘House of Sport’. The council could be minded to help the club but they have a duty to rate/taxpayers of the City of Cardiff.

Follow Link to full article

Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale to stay on - BBC

Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale has apologised to supporters over the club's financial crisis but says he will not be resigning.
BBC Ridsdale Story follow link

"Today is about me eating humble pie and apologising to fans." - Peter Ridsdale

There was a press conference at 2pm today at the Cardiff City Stadium where Chairman Peter Ridsdale clarified the clubs position following yesterdays’ statement.

The big question on the mind of most Cardiff City fans was if Peter Ridsdale was going to resign. The simply answer was NO and he told the gathered media that he enjoys the unanimous support of the board who feel a regime change would not be beneficial for the club. Ridsdale said he recognises the supporters feel let down and he his sorry. "I know that a number of our supporters will look for a regime change but we are going through a difficult time. After a long discussion with the board this morning it was decided that a regime change at this moment in time would not be the best thing for Cardiff City."

On the Season ticket plan it will be honoured by that he must mean the five year deal and the refund if the City make the Premier League but of course the big one he is not honouring, the money to manager Dave Jones for new players. He when on to talk about admitting the season ticket idea was misleading, but insists this was not intentional - I am lost now. He said, "I admit I made a mistake. Until yesterday, we believed there would be money coming in before the transfer window.
"My priority is to make sure we pay our creditors.
"The supporters deserve an apology because I made a mistake.
"I don't believe I have lied. I think the word lie is inappropriate.
"The season ticket campaign which was launched pre Christmas is an offer which remains and I hope we will be handing back money to supporters when we achieve promotion to the Premier League.
"At the time we were working on a number of areas of funding which we believed would, along with the season ticket scheme, would allow us to sort out paying our creditors and bring in players.
"The other areas we are working on have not materialised to date although some of them are still being discussed.
"To the degree that the campaign was misleading I apologise but it was not deliberate.
"I take grave exception to anyone suggesting I have lied."

When he asked if the tax bill will be paid by February 10, Ridsdale at a time when he needs to be open with the fans said, "You'll find out on February 10th." So we fans have to sit on the edge of our chairs nervously waiting until February 10. For Christ sake why can he just tell us the date?

Peter Ridsdale: I’m sorry – The Official Website

Cardiff game of the week - plus goals

The League Managers Association have awarded Cardiff City with the game of the week award for the 6-0 victory over Bristol City. This is the first time Cardiff have won the award and you will be able to see (pre-recorded) the engraved crystal football presented to manager Dave Jones on Sky Soccer Saturday on 30th January.

On the panel
LMA Chairman Howard Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Joe Royle, Dave Bassett and Barry Fry

See goals from Tuesday night - http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid29318049001?bctid=63673306001

Never a dull moment being a Cardiff City fan

No players this transfer window ............

I do not no one fan who believed new players were on the way to help with the push to the Premier League and the statement by the club today puts a seal on that. Club Statement We have been let down but saving the club is the most important issues for Chairman Peter Ridsdale and I think every Cardiff City fan would want that over bring in new players.

However Peter Ridsdale will have a tough time now and the few fans who supported him will feel like me a ‘Patsy’ or ’Sucker’. Cardiff play Doncester at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday and fans are already calling for a protest in the car park after the game. Of course, the club are sorry they could not keep the promise made to fans who bought their season ticket early that the money was going to manager Dave Jones to buy players in the January window, believed to be £3million. Only a few weeks ago, Ridsdale was guaranteeing new players with the taxman paid and the transfer embargo lifted so when is the taxman going to be pay.

All the financial trouble seems to stem from the move to the new stadium and the inability to secure new investment. There are supposed to be three parties interested in buying the City, Americans who we know nothing about but is suppose to be the rich of the three their representatives have been in talks with Ridsdale. Next, we have the Malaysians who Ridsdale has been courting for sometime but although one has made a small investment for a seat on the board it as gone very quiet with them. That leaves Ben Steele who is willing to buy the club for £40million but is not the richest potential football club owner and would need other investors to join him to push the club forward.

The club plan sell of “assets” not players according to them but other holdings, land which earmarked for a hotel. Premiership is necessary now or we can kiss goodbye to our best players in the summer.

City on FATV

The FA Cup 5th round game between Cardiff/Chelsea will be live on the internet via FATV. The police have had their say on the game so it will kick at noon in Saturday February 13. ITV have yet to announce their schedule on game but I cannot see them missing this game as for S4C they will be show the game live again with English subtitles .

This will be the second time Cardiff City will have been on FATV the third round game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Cardiff City will bank £123,750 from the broadcast plus their share of the gate receipts, Cardiff are expecting a sell-out for the game with Cardiff hoping to received between 6,000/7,000 ticket for the game. It looks like this game will not be a ‘bubble’ as a lot of fans were kind of expecting.

The must have got there history books out and deemed this game high profile has the two teams have not met since the early 80’s. I can see what the drffiance between a 12noon kick-off and a 3pm kick off fans will travel and trouble will happen if there is an opportunity.

Massacre at the Gate

The Sevenside derby turned into a walkover last night has the Bluebirds put the Robins to the sword. Cardiff done the League double over Bristol City this season and seen them out of the FA Cup leading helping along the way to the Chelsea game.

Call me cynical but could have the win over Bristol City be put down to the Chelsea game and a desire to be in the starting line up at Stamford Bridge, well Cardiff City boss Dave Jones remarked on the ‘Chelsea Effect’ to describe what he saw last night, so maybe it was.

I do not think many of the 600/700 Cardiff fans that made the short trip over the border to England were expecting to see six goals. What was great was to see both Michael Chopra and Ross McCormack on the score sheet, it has been a while since the forward have dominated the scoring help last night by a Peter Whittingham goal plus a helpful own goal.

The game was quiet has both team started having player twice in the past two weeks there was little these players didn’t know about each other until the nineteen minute. It was up to the Championship leading scorer Peter Whittingham to open up the nights account when the Bristol City keeper made fine save for Chopra only for the ball to rebound to the Cardiff midfielder who stroked the ball into the net. About four minutes later, the game took another turn when McCormack scored the second of the night. It was his second in two games, and started when Rae received a lovely ball from Ledley but the Scotsman fumble a shot but McCormack was on hand to finish off.

Watching John Salako covering the game Gillette Soccer Special was in mid interview on McCormack goal with Chopra joined the party by scoring the third goal. It was his first league goal since September when Cardiff batter Derby County 6-1, it was Bothroyd who supplied a beauty of a ball to Chopra who buried the ball into the net 3-0 and the Cardiff fan when delirious has the home fans watched on.

The night of misery for the Bristol fan was not over yet just before the half time whistle when Chopra cross a ball dangerous across the goal when the luckless home team watch has defender Fontaine put the ball into his own net from two yards out and chorus of boos’ rung out from the home fans.

It was every worrying, the last time Cardiff City when in 4-0 up at half time was ‘Peterborough’ forever written into the minds when Dave Jones’ boys surrender a 4-0 lead to end the game all square at 4-4 and luckily time run out before they could score again.

If the Bristol City manager, players or fans took any comfort from the ‘Peterborough’ effect, it did not take long to wipe that thought from their minds before with a minute gone Chopra had something to say on the subject with his second of the game. It was straight from the kick off the season goal Bothroyd was tacked the ball fell right into the path of Chopra who fired the ball into the corner of the goal just out of reach of the diving Bristol keeper. 5-0 and in was a signal for the home fans to thin out has some saw the picture on the wall and went home early.

Cardiff were well on top now and had a few chances, Bristol looked dangerous on the break but hitting a tight defence and a goalkeeper in Marshall looking to keep a clean sheet.

McCormack round off the night for the Bluebirds with a low shot into the net end the goal rush on the night 6-0, what a night. The more Bristol fans left the ground and all you could hear on the radio was the celebrating Cardiff fans. The win helps Cardiff back into fourth place with West Brom and Nottingham Forest both of whom won last night and Newcastle who play tonight. Cardiff are ten points behind automatic promotion spot with a game in hand over second place Forest.

On a great night for the Bluebirds it was good to see Chopra and McCormack back in scoring mode but it was Bothroyd and Ledley who were on fire to, both had hands in most of the goals with Bothroyd outstanding and with days left before the transfer window closes just hope no one was watching.

Cardiff team v Bristol City

Marshall

Matthews Gyepes Gerrard Kennedy

Ledley Rae Whittingham McCormack

Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes
Enckelman, Hudson, Taiwo, Burke, Capaldi, Blake, Feeney

Cardiff made a number of changes from the team that beat Leicester City on Saturday and in what could be his ever game for Cardiff City Joe Ledley has been made captain.

Away to Chelsea - Lovely Jubbly

Cardiff are only three games from a return trip to Wembley and having and have been given the plum draw of the 5th round holders Chelsea away from home. The game scheduled for 13th/14th of February and with my crystal ball I would say the game will find it’s way to TV, it is one of the best draws of the round.

The cry for tickets has already started who will get them and how many but the club have tokd fans to wait has they have yet to talk to Chelsea about arrangements. City fans will have to re-mortgaging has the ticket prices at Stanford Bridge are renowned high, but hopefully they will be much cheaper than the Premiership and Champions League prices. Cardiff will sell out their allocation which could be has many as 6,000 but it will have to be seen what the club get owing to the police having their say. In any case the game will be a very lucrative tie for the Bluebirds and can look forward to a welcome financial boost.

Early comment from manager Dave Jones, "I'd be disappointed if my players weren't looking forward to strutting their stuff at Chelsea," said Jones.
"If we could pull off a result it will be another notch in our history."

It’s been a long time since Cardiff have played Chelsea, 1986/87 in the League Cup a game that Cardiff won 2-1 but is it coincident that the last time the two met in the FA Cup was in 1927 the year Cardiff won the Cup.

The rest of the draw is as follows;
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace
Manchester City v Stoke City
Derby County v Birmingham City
Bolton Wanderers v Leeds Utd v Tottenham
Fulham v Notts County or Wigan
Reading v West Bromwich Albion
Southampton v Portsmouth

City in the hat for the 5th rd

It looked on the cards that Cardiff City would be in line for a replay with minutes to go with the score at 2-2, but the game is not over until the final whistle.

The Bluebirds have fallen to a number of extra time goals this season but today that was on the other foot. Two late goals in injury time took the City into the draw for the fifth round. Up in the director’s box sitting alongside Chairman Peter Ridsdale was Ben Steele who is in talks with the club regarding a possible takeover.

It could be Joe Ledley swansong today, he is due in hospital next week after the Bristol City game Tuesday for two operation that will see him miss the rest of the season. Today could be the last ever game for the Bluebirds at home, if he does not sign a new contract. It would have been great if he could have signed off with a goal but he had a goal disallowed before Bothroyd scored the opening goal for the City from a Chopra cross.

From a strong start by the home team after the goal Leicester begun to up their game and put Cardiff on the back foot. It was not long before they squared the game up with a goal, when a free kick picked out a Leicester player in the box only for him to hit the back of the net with a neat right-footed finish. Five minutes later, they took the lead when a through ball found a Leicester strike that knocked the ball home at close-range.

Leicester when in at half time 2-1 up so it was down to Cardiff City manager Dave Jones to pull his troops together.

Cardiff were much livelier at the start of the second half but had to wait awhile before the game was levelled and it was Championship leading scored Peter Whittingham who got the goal. He swung in a free kick from the right evaded everybody including the goalkeeper and found the far corner of the net, a City player was on hand to head the ball in but the ball had already crossed the line.

That looked to be it the fourth official showed the board to the crowd, five minutes left and with our luck a chance for them to win the game. Not this time, it was Cardiff turn to do the damage, and up stepped Chris Burke who had came on in place of Paul Quinn in the 61minute with a right-footed shot into the net. There was still time for another Cardiff goal when Ross McCormack scored his first goal since April when just before the final whistle the City striker shot home from a ball that fire off the backside of fellow striker Jay Bothroyd.

Cardiff are in the drew tomorrow along with
Fulham, Aston Villa, Bolton, Derby, Birmingham, Portsmouth, Chelsea, Reading, Southampton, West Brom
Replay’s need - Wigan v Notts County, Leeds United v Tottenham, Crystal Palace v Wolves
Playing Sunday
Stoke v Arsenal, 1:30pm
Scunthorpe v Man City, R4, 4pm

The biggest disappointment of the day was the size of the crowd just 10,000 and counting Tuesday replay with Bristol City only around 18,000 watch both games.

Fans upset Steele

He is yet to sign the dotted line and buy the club but already got a taste of what it is like to own Cardiff City, who said Cardiff City was easy.

Prospective owner Ben Steele who is in talks with Cardiff City chairman is not happy with some messageboard chatter among Cardiff fans on whether he has the finance to buy the City or run the club. The 32-year-old property developer is meeting the Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale today for talks and will be at tomorrows’ FA Cup game against Leicester City tomorrow.

In the South Wales Echo he hit back saying that these people don’t know him he is genuinely interested in the club and is ready to move if a deal can be struck. The funds are in the bank he has revealed and because he has no partners unlike other interested parties, American and Malaysian investors he will make the decision to buy or not.

He looks to be truly interested in the Bluebirds but he is on in the same league has the owners of Manchester City and Chelsea and will need to run the club has a business. There is the question of the clubs debts at round £23million and the all-important date with the taxman in the High Court on February 10th if the £2.7million is not paid.

See Echo article in full on Wales Online

Bluebird to a Swan?

Things must be bad if Cardiff City is willing to talk to your fans deadly rivals about sell one of your star players to them. The news that Swansea City has held talks about the possibility of signing Jay Bothroyd has gone down like a lead balloon with most fans.

The Swansea chairman revealed he held talks with Dave Jones saying, “We have spoken to Dave Jones about the possibility of signing Jay.
“We were interested in a number of strikers and that was one conversation we had.
“He is not a player that is within our price range, though. Cardiff’s valuation for Jay is miles out from where we put ours.
“That is where things stand at the moment. We couldn’t come anywhere near Cardiff’s valuation.
“It is not a disappointment, though. It’s fine for us, no concern whatsoever.”

Cardiff has a value of £3million on the head of the City striker, which is way beyond the price range of Swansea. On top of that, there is Bothroyd’s wages that could have been an obstacle as well because Swansea would have to break their strict wage policy to match is wages with the City.

All Cardiff fans know that the club has put a price on all the players and will only consider if the valuation is met something Swansea could not do. It was rumoured the Aston Villa was interested in Bothroyd leading the player to say he was happy at Cardiff.

Dennehy off to Gillingham

After just least than a month, back from a loan period with Hereford young defender Darren Dennehy is off on his travels again. He will be joining Division One Gillingham on loan initial one-month loan deal.

The Irish U21 international has made no impact with the Bluebirds since joining the club after turning down a contract extension with his previous club Everton. At the time, he said he decided to move to Cardiff because he would have a better change of first team football.

The young defender has not played a game for the Bluebirds since joining back in June 2008. All he as to his career with Cardiff are a few appearances on the bench as a non used substitute.

Cardiff team v Bristol City

Marshall
Gyepes Quinn Gerrard Matthews
Whittingham Burke Ledley Wildig
Bothroyd McCormack

Substitutes
Enckelman, Hudson, Kennedy, Blake, Meades, Chopra, Feeney

Gabor Gyepes gets a call-up for tonight’s is first since the end of November. Dave Jones goes for Ross McCormack to partner Jay Bothroyd up front.

Another Sevenside Derby

Tomorrows’ game with Bristol City will be the third time both club have player each other so far this season and there is a League game next Tuesday to make it four times. Cardiff City boss Dave Jones will have to leave it until almost the last minute before picking his team for this FA Cup 3th rd replay has illness and injury take it's toll on his squad.

It is defence where moat of Dave Jones troble can be found, Kevin McNaughton, Adam Matthews, Mark Hudson are reported to be struggling while in midfield Solomon Taiwo has come down with the virus which has hit the club with Cardiff latest youngest off the academy production line Aaron Wildig reported to carrying a knock. Other players out of contention midfielder Gavin Rae is out with a hamstring and Josh Magennis with a broken leg. The whereabouts of Kelvin Etuhu are unknown he must be injury again. It was expected Stephen McPhail he was diagnosed with stage one lymphoma back in Nov would be back for the end of the month.

On the plus side, Mark Kennedy will be back in squad after recovering from illness and Jay Bothroyd who played at Scunthorpe on Saturday and was not fully fit suffering from the after effects of the virus but is expected to be full fit tomorrow. Bothroyd said, "I've never suffered an illness like that before.
"I am getting back to 100 per cent, although I still have a bit of a cough."
Chris Burke who went off at Scunthorpe with a rib injury is expected to be ready for the Bristol City game.

Tuesday game could be the last ever game for Joe Ledley who is due to go into hospital which will keep him out for the rest of the season. He is out of contract in the summer and unless he signs, a new contract with the club will be free to find a new club. If City does win tomorrow then Ledley could feature in Saturdays’ FA Cup fourth-round clash game at the Cardiff City Stadium against Leicester City.

Ridsdale stands his corner

The Cardiff City chairman came out of his corner fighting over comments attributed to him in some Sunday papers. In the South Wales Echo he when on the offensive saying, “I was asked last week if I thought if the stick I was getting was because of a Welsh-English thing? Categorically not, I replied, contrary to what was then reported.

“I accept there are people who didn’t want me here in the first place because I came from Leeds and what happened at that club, but who have tolerated me because of the job that had to be done." For the rest of the article click here

Times hard for Ridsdale

Having read both the articles in yesterday's Daily Star Sunday and the Sunday Express if they were true it would be suicidal for Ridsdale as chairman of Cardiff City and there is no way he is that stupid.

Times are hard at the moment for Petre Ridsdale, unhappy fans, the press, the taxman, further investment and takeover talks all at his door, who said being chairman of Cardiff City was easy. Being English has very little to do with Mr Ridsdale problems with the fans at the moment, trust is his big problem and the lack of it.

A statement was quickly put on the Cardiff City Official Website yestreday saying,

CHAIRMAN DEMANDS APOLOGY
An article in today’s Express implies that I said that the agenda from some sections of the media to force me out was because I was English. We will be seeking an apology from the Express as I expressly said that this was not the case. In fact my grandparents were Welsh.
I do feel that some sections of the media have an agenda but my background has never in my opinion played any part of that. I will be seeking an apology and a retraction from Express newspapers.
Peter Ridsdale

"City ripe for investment" - Ben Steele

There is more from Ben Steele in today’s’ Wales on Sunday confirming his commitment to buy the Bluebirds and said, “I am a football fan who is excited about an opportunity to buy Cardiff City.
“I have the funds available and my aim is to help take Cardiff into the Premier League.
“I tried to buy Southampton last year and felt then I was stabbed in the back.
“They told me all along I was the front-runner and then it didn’t happen.
“I was ready and I wanted to press on, but it wasn’t to be.
“Cardiff City is now ripe for investment. I know all about the other parties interested in buying the club, groups from Malaysia and America, but I really believe I would be good for Cardiff.
“I love football. I was an Arsenal fan as a kid and still follow the Gunners.
“I go to matches occasionally, but not as often as I used to.
“Ever since I first made contact I have followed Cardiff through everything that has happen.”
“Will anything happen?
“I hope so. I really do. This could be a fantastic time for Cardiff City.
“That’s about right, not far off, and that would give a new owner a debt-free club.
“My ambition if I become owner, and I sincerely hope I do, is to build on what has already been achieved and take Cardiff into the Premier League.
“I’ve heard it suggested that because I am a property developer I would be tempted to asset strip.
“That’s ridiculous and nothing could be further from the truth. That’s not my sort of business and, believe me, I want to own a Premier League club.
“A lot of good work has already been done and I want to help Cardiff make further progress.
“If I buy the club then my aim would be to work closely with Peter and Dave Jones. Yes, I would want them both to stay.
“They are good, experienced men and have already brought the club a long way towards their Premier League ambitions.
“I will be at the game on Tuesday to watch the cup replay and I could be close to becoming Cardiff’s new owner or a million miles away.
“We will find out during talks this week. From my part we have started due diligence and I want to move forward as quickly as possible.”
“My interest was on the backburner for a while as my father-in-law died just before Christmas.
“But I am still extremely keen, and ready to push on. I’d love to think we can complete a deal.
“There are direct flights, it wouldn’t be a problem.
“If this goes ahead I will run the club as a business. I don’t intend to go in and lose vast amounts of money.
“It is a football club, but it is also a business.
“There is vast potential at Cardiff City. I am told the fans are passionate and hopefully I will find that out in the near future.”

From that interview he looks to be genuinely interested in buying the club he will be in Cardiff on Tuesday for talks and watch the Bluebirds take on Bristol City that night at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Full article from Wales Online

Cardiff Team v Scunthorpe

Marshall
McNaughton Hudson Gerrard Whittingham
Burke Ledley Matthews Wildig
Chopra Bothroyd

Substitutes
Enckelman, Gyepes, Quinn, Capaldi, Taiwo, Feeney, McCormack

New owner on the way?

The new owner of Cardiff City is... Ben Steele that's if you believe the front page of the South Wales Echo. He is due in Cardiff according to the paper on Tuesday to tie up the deal to buy the club for around £40million.

The Guernsey-based property developer told the Echo, “My plan is to hopefully get Cardiff City into the Premier League.
“I have been talking about making an investment or buying the whole club.
“Hopefully, we’ll get something agreed and we’re in the process or starting due diligence.
“We have lawyers lined up ready and we have the money ready.”

Cardiff are linked with takeover rumours from America and Malaysia was the talks are reported to be in an advanced state. Americans had representatives at the Blackpool game last Saturday and if they are interested in buying the club they will have to make the interest official know and put a bid in. The Malaysians has always was a outside bet, they have been on the clubs radar for months now and progress has been slow but are believed to be well into the due diligence process, which is needed to be completed before you can owner a club in British football.

Some fact on the possible new owner,

He is married with two young daughters, started in business selling cars in the south of England, starting as a salesman at the age of 17 and owning his own garage by the time he was 21 years old.

He retired to Guernsey two and a half years ago and began a property investment company, Steele Properties Guernsey Ltd. Steele is said to be Guernsey’s biggest single open market investor.

This is not the first time Steele has been interested in taking control of a football club. In the summer, he was involved in a partnership with fellow Guernsey man and Southampton fan Quinten Hubbard to buy Southampton Football Club.

Of course, the club are unlikely to make any comment until the last possible minute and I would expect it to be the case. Even if a deal is done on Tuesday it would be some time before the new owner could take control, maybe the end of February. The deal is for £40million and include paying off the debts, in total, the majority to Langston (£10m after a new agreement), with £9m owed to Paul Guy and Mike Hall of PMG and £2.7m to Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs.

The debt to the taxman must be paid before any new players can be brought in but chairman Peter Ridsdale has insisted the £2.7m tax bill will be sorted out quickly.

Ledley off to hospital

It had to happen eventually with midfielder Joe Ledley carrying a hip injury the official website has announced he will be going into hospital at the end of the month to final fix the problem.

Ledley needs two operations the first with be at the end of the month and 10/14 days later he will have the second, he will be out for the rest of the season. Ledley will be out of contract in the summer, although City boss Dave Jones is keen for him to sign a new contract. However, the player and his agent have left contract on the table unsigned.

Manager Dave Jones said: "A date is set for Joe's operation. It will probably be before the end of January that we'll have to say to him: 'Joe, it's best to get in and get it done.'
"He's got to have both hips done. He'll have one done, and then there'll be a 10 to 14-day break before the other one is done.
"Warren Feeney had this problem for two-and-a-half seasons and Roger Johnson battled through a season with it, but they needed only one hip done.
"Joe has to get both done. Joe is 22 and when you look at his age and the number of games he's played, that's a lot of games, so he's best to get sorted. Then he gets back as quickly as possible."

If don’t sign he will be free to sign for another club free but Cardiff will be looking for compensation as he is under 23, a tribunal will be needed to decide how much the Bluebirds receive for his development.

The clubs hope of a large payout as been greatly improved after the compensation Chelsea had to pay for Daniel Sturridge to Manchester City, £3.5million now with a possible another £3million based on appearances and senior international caps for England. All that based on only 12 first team starts and 20 odd off the subs bench. Ledley on the other hand has played almost 250 games with around 14 of them from the bench and as 32 full caps for Wales.

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones said about the Sturridge deal, "We are still hoping Joe will sign a new contract. If he doesn't we will look at the compensation, it's as simple as that.
"What's happened with Sturridge at Chelsea bodes well for us because he has not played anywhere near the amount of games Joe has played and he's not a full international.
"So if I was the chairman I would be pretty happy with what they have delivered there because Joe is on a different playing field from Sturridge even though he's at Chelsea.”

Matthews rumour hotting up

Chairman Peter Ridsdale must have read the South Wales Echo this morning and wished if one story was ever true, is was the one, the race to sign Adam Matthews is stepping up according to the paper.

As well as Manchester United and Arsenal, showing interest in the young Cardiff City defender Tottenham and Aston Villa are reported to be monitoring Matthews. With the club in need of money there would be little stand in the away of a deal if any of the clubs were to up their interest. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp had Mattews watched at Bristol City on Tuesday.

Matthews is valued at £4million by Cardiff and normal that would be a fix price but surely, a bidding war would be healthy. The only question is will any of the teams mentioned break cover and put in a tempting bid. Cardiff are also talking about a new contract with the 18-year-old and his representative while his 20th first team appearance on Tuesday night triggered a £30,000 bonus payment for him. The payment as been earned on merit since he broke into the first team and can be seen by the number of top teams watching him. There should be a number of scouts out tomorrow at Scunthorpe to watch him, if he is picked.

Ridsdale said, “We have been in talks with Adam and his representative for several weeks and we want to get the new deal agreed as soon as possible.
“I can’t say for certain if any of our players will leave during the January transfer window.
“Of course we are aware of interest in Adam. We want him to remain, but if a Manchester United or Arsenal offered silly money, we might find it hard to stand in Adam’s way.
“Let’s wait and see what happens.”

While all this talk is in the atmosphere Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has put a bit of a brake on the talk by saying it could be a bit soon for a move into the Premiership for the player. I tend to agree with the Cardiff boss, Matthews would likely find he would be playing reserve team football or loaned out while if he was to stay with Cardiff he as more than a great chance of prolonged first team football.

The player himself is putting all the rumours behind him and getting on with it and working hard to keep in Dave Jones plans, asked about his future he said, “I simply ignore the speculation and carry on playing the best I can for Cardiff.
“When you hear some the clubs being mentioned in connection with you, it is difficult. And, of course, every footballer wants to play in the Premier League.
“But I’m at Cardiff and still learning the game. The only thing in my thoughts is to train and play as best as I can for Cardiff.”

Everyone will just have to wait and see how this all play’s out but if nothing does happen this transfer window, Matthews could be the big story of the summer.

FA Cup replay could be shown on S4C

Ok it looks like I was in the minority when it comes to the coverage for the Bristol City v Cardiff City FAC game has they managed viewing figures of around 475,000, surely that must be a record.

S4C must have mean happy with the viewing figures as they are in negotiations to broadcast the replay at the Cardiff City Stadium next Tuesday (19th Jan). There is no news if the game will be FATV again or if ITV will be picking up the game has there is all four games that night with the Cardiff v Bristol City being one of the biggest.

Taiwo loan on backburner

The Daily Gazette have revealed that Cardiff midfielder Solomon Taiwo who only joined the Bluebirds back is August is going on loan to Colchester United. He joined the Bluebirds from Dagenham & Redbridge where the management and fans thought highly of the player.

Taiwo came on last night in the 1-1 draw with Bristol City for the injured Gavin Rea with about five plus minutes to go before the end of the first half. He had a solid second half but his limited changes to play has manager Dave Jones keen to loan him out for more first team football.

Since joining the City, he has only started once and as made a number of appearances off the bench with Jones saying, "Sol is going out on loan to Colchester.
"He needs to play matches. Sol did well when he came on and that will do him no harm.
"If we don't get players in, he will have to stay, but I don't want him to stay and just sit him on the bench."

However, there has been no official announcement from either club just what Dave Jones said after the game last night. The Gazette is say the loan deal is on hold. The delay could be something to do with the Rae injury and the fact Cardiff would be light in midfielder if he were to go. This vast improvement since the Swansea game could also be a factor.

Late goals the bane of the Bluebirds

So it was going to be S4C (The Welsh language TV) to watch the game for me last night. I have to say this will be about the only time I planned to sit down and watch the channel for more than a few minutes since the day of it first broadcast. They have showed the Wales international team game but this must be the first time they have shown one of the two league clubs, I cannot remember if they showed the Cardiff City FA Cup final, I think they did.

No English commentary what a joke most City fans speak English I watch some of the Port Talbot game the other week and there was English commentary Andy Legg was doing it. Subtitles only, just cannot believe it; I wanted to watch the game on my new 32” flat screen TV. The weather looks sh*t glad I have sitting in front of the TV. No, Welsh speaking ex-Cardiff player so the studio guest is a Jack (Swansea City fan) John Hartson.

Straight over to FATV and internet viewing for me - screw S4C I would rather watch the game on my laptop.

That was better the English language I could understand them. The weather looks like hell and I hope if the game were to be called off, it would only happen if we were losing. Cardiff kick-off the picture and streaming quality is very good on the internet. Bristol City started the lively having the best of the opening play all the chance falling to the home team. Cardiff fist real chance came for a free kick taken by Joe Ledley whose shot was saved, a Cardiff player picked up the rebound, but his ball back in was well cover by Bristol City. Moments later Peter Whittingham saw a shot go wide.

The conditions were making it difficult to play football there was a lot of loses ball, slips and under passing because of the pitch. The game was end to end but without the finishing than Cardiff lost Gavin Rae with a reported muscle injury and was replaced Solomon Taiwo.

The first half petered out and both teams when in level which was fair based on what I was watching. Worrying the game was looking like it would go to the first team to score.

The second half started with both team were tentative but the pace soon picked up boss Dave Jones made another change taking off Ross McCormack and sending on Warren Feeney. Feeney helped the Bluebirds take the lead by closing down the Bristol keeper who made a poor clearance only for Michael Chopra to get on the end of the ball and put into the back of the net.

Has Chopra celebrated there been an altercation on the touchline in front of the Bristol City bench has the Cardiff striker run passed was push or tripped by Bristol City boss Gary Johnson. After getting to his feet, Chopra look to have pushed the Bristol City boss. It was Chopra’s first goal since the end of September.

With the game at 1-0 and Cardiff’s reputation for letting in late goals the game was never safe and when fourth official raised the board to show four extra minutes you just knew there was something left in this game. Half way through the four minutes it happen, Bristol got one back to level the score went Cardiff City fan and Bristol City player Gavin Williams drove the ball past Marshall. Therefore, there will be a replay in Tuesday at The Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff team v Bristol City at Ashton Gate

Marshall

Matthews Hudson Gerrard McNaughton

Ledley Rae Wildig Whittingham

Chopra McCormack

Subs - Gyepes Taiwo Enckelman Blake Feeney Meades
Dave Jones has thrown up a interesting starting line up gave young Aaron Wildig gets a start in midfield and up front Michael Chopra and Ross McCormack spare head the attack who have long been thought of has not being able to play together.

Investment and Takeover off the field rumours hotting up

The South Wales Echo are playing it big with the Ben Steele link to the Bluebirds has the front page headline’s of “GUERNSEY TYCOON’S CITY TALKS” nice headlines let’s hope there is some truth in it.

It would seem Cardiff City have all of a sudden become a hot property since news broke about the winding up order, we have what looks like a race to chuck money at the club. We have the Malaysians kind of on the backburner as it is quiet on that front but Dato Chan Tien Ghee who joined the board a while ago is due to be paying a visit soon.

Then there are the investors looking for a slice of the club, Ben Steele is said to be one of a number the Guernsey-based property developer who last summer was interested in buy Southampton along with a business partner. There are three others lining up with investment according to press sources some of which could have been at the Blackpool game. Chairman Peter Ridsdale did turn up with representatives of the mysterious US group with billionaire-level backing who are looking to buy up the club. They are very keen in gaining control of the club and would keep manager Dave Jones and chairman Peter Ridsdale if the deal goes ahead.

It’s being reported the club is up for grubs for only £40million with ad-ons of £23million in debts, Langston (£10m after a new agreement), with £9m owed to Paul Guy and Mike Hall of PMG and £2.7m to Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs. Still pretty cheap for a football club who are close to possible promotion with a brand new stadium with A1 training facilities and with an option to build a hotel.

Could a buy-out be on the cards

Just a big rumour or fact, who knows, But I can tell you now Mr American billionaire Cardiff City are ripe for milking but be prepared to be milked back. After weeks of negativity surrounding the club, the fans need some uplifting news, but will this turn into another false dawn.

We have on the one side the Sunday Mirror telling fan the club is up for sale at a price of £40million but any buyer have to take on the clubs loans on top, around £23million meaning the club would cost someone or group around £63million. The Mirror mentioned that the club had three potential investors looking to join the board, with all the talk of going out of business and taxman they must be suicidal.

However, there were potential investors at the game yesterday and they could not but be impressed with the stadium and the facilities at the club, there is a lot going for the club.

The only named person linked to have and interest investing in the club Guernsey millionaire Ben Steele who has been having talks with Ridsdale about making a major investment to buy a significant portion of the club. Steele was also interest in a Southampton buy-out last year.

The story in the Wales on Sunday and now being carried on BBC Sports suggest there is interest from an American billionaire in buying the Bluebirds with a deal completed by a rumoured March. If true and that is a big IF that would leave the club still be reasonable to pay off the tax and keep payment to Langston going. There has been talk and lots of rumours of a buy-out from the Malaysians, Dato Chan Tien Ghee is on the board but Chairman Peter Ridsdale was hoping for a lot more investment coming for the Far East and has spent a considerable amount of time courting it. To date it has been very quiet on that front since a report that they were check on the clubs books.

There is no comment from Chairman Peter Ridsdale but there is always a club insider who to pass on some information true or not, “The Americans are keen on reaching agreement quickly.
“The backers are billionaires – and they believe Cardiff City would be a good investment.
“Talks continue with the Malaysian connection and Dato Chan is due over in the near future for more talks.
“But the Americans are keen to get on with things – and they have the money needed.”

Ian Holloway hits out at Cardiff fans | Football League - Times Online

Ian Holloway hits out at Cardiff fans Football League - Times Online

Bristol City have the covers on

Bristol City are doing all they can to make sure the Tuesday night FA Cup 3rd rearranged game with Cardiff is played. With the weather still not improving, they are use the Macleod Cover system, which a number of clubs have, and are using to protect their pitches.

The pitch was being cover yesteray according to the Bristol City official website, the Macleod system consist of a blanket dome which covers the pitch and uses hot-air blowers underneath and will stay in place until hours before kick-off. The problem is not always the pitch but the area around the ground which scuppered a number of game yesterday leading to games been called off.

Again, according to the official site the FA is helping financially due to them showing the game live on the internet and of course the game will be live on S4C with English subtitles, why not duel commentary in English and Welsh?

Cardiff team v Blackpool

Marshall
McNaughton Hudson Quinn Gerrard
Rae Whittingham Burke Ledley
Magennis McCormack

Substitutes
Enckelman, Gyepes, Taiwo, Matthews, Wildig, Chopra, Feeney

Well Dave Jones knows how to pop a suprise, would anyone expect Josh Magennis to be starting along side Ross McCormack. There is no Jay Bothroyd even on the bench so he must still be carrying a injury. Magennis kept Chopra and Feeney. The rest of the team are as Peterborough.

City need a win today

West Brom managed to break the odds last night and play there top of the table clash with Nottingham Forest, and probably wish they had not bothered after suffering a 3-1 defeat.

The win saw Forest jump above West Brom into second place and along with top of the table Newcastle and third place West Brom are opening a sizeable gap. Fourth place Cardiff are now eight points behind so a win tomorrow if the game is on is all-important but Blackpool will not be coming just to lie down.

Well done to Cardiff City for getting today game on.

Has for today’s game the postponement last week has helped City boss Dave Jones with injuries so there are more players in the mix including a number of returnees for loan deals defenders Tony Capaldi and Darren Dennehy, midfielder Darcy Blake and striker Warren Feeney have all returned.
Today Gavin Rea is expected to be back after a quick recovery from a hand injury.

Joe Ledley would have benefited from the break to rest his ongoing hip injury. Jay Bothroyd was classed has only 50/50 with a knee injury for last weekend but should be fix for this afternoon. Jones should have full backs Kevin McNaughton (hamstring) and Mark Kennedy (calf) passed fit open up a number of options for his defence.

Game on for tomorrow? - how safe is Tuesday night

Cardiff City has done just about everything to make sure the game against Blackpool is on tomorrow. The club closed the Cardiff City Stadium today to the public while the car parks, the walkway, and surrounding areas have been cleared of snow and ice. The stadium and the pitch are ready for business and the prediction for tonight is -4/5 with no snow.

It is a bit ominous over the other side of the Bristol Channel, Bristol Rover’s home game tomorrow has been called off because the pitch was covered in inches of snow, and the playing surface beneath still frozen solid. Cardiff are due to make the short trip over the bridge to play Bristol City Tuesday night in a rearranged FA Cup 3rd Round game. Possible snowfall is expected for Sunday and Monday in the Bristol area along with freezing nighttime temperature. Bristol City shut up shop at the ground early today because of snow and ice outside for the safety of staff and supporters.

End of the week and still in business

It is the end of the week and the News of the World said we would be going out of business because of monies owed to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, well they were fairly close with their story but do not win a ciger. However, chairman Peter Ridsdale is insisting there is nothing to worry about for the fans, the debt will be paid by the end of January has planned. Chairman Peter Ridsdale insists: "We have every confidence that all monies owing to HMRC will have been repaid by the end of January."

A second court date has been set for Wednesday, 10 February for the winding up order but if the club were to paid the debt at the end of the month the court case would be dropped.

Ridsdale has said in a statement, "In discussions with HMRC at the end of December 2009, we confirmed that we would pay monies owing to them by the end of January 201.
"HMRC booked a back stop date of 10 February 2010 to go back to court if, for any reason, we had not been able to fulfil our obligations to pay by the end of January.
"We have every confidence that all monies owing to HMRC will have been repaid by the end of January."

The first winding up order in December was dismissed after the club was reported to have struck a deal with the HMRC to set up a payment the first payment due on 22nd December the club missed that date.

This month is going to be an expensive month one way or another for the Bluebirds. They have to pay-off the taxman, and start paying the Langston debt with the first instalment due this month and fund Dave Jones transfer request’s. Deep pockets are to be need at the Cardiff City Stadium, can all this be funded out of the season ticket deal money.

McCormack wants to play

There is a little rumbling of discontent outside the manager’s office with Ross McCormack asking for opportunity of a first team start tomorrow against play-off rivals Blackpool. He did start against Peterborough and had a good game with a few chances but was taken off twenty minutes before the end. He would have started against Bristol City last Saturday if the game was not called off according to Cardiff boss Dave Jones.

The Scottish international has been playing understudy to Michael Chopra so far this season but with Chopra in a vain of poor form in front of goal, his last goal was way back at the end of September, you would thing McCormack would have got a few more starts. McCormack told the South Wales Echo, “It has been a bit frustrating but I’ve been patient on the sidelines and you can’t really say anything when the team is winning, scoring and playing some really good football.
“The only thing I could do was work hard in training and once my chance comes make sure I’m ready for it.
“It will take three, four, possibly five games to get match fit and hopefully I will be given that chance.
“If I’m playing tomorrow, I’ve obviously got to play well ... and not give the gaffer any excuse to drop me for Chopra or anybody”

McCormack must have seen all this coming that’s why he was looking for a move in the summer. Hull City wanted him but would not meet the clubs valuation, it left him out on the limb with the fans but that was short lived. I will be interest to see who Dave Jones goes for .to play alongside Bothroyd.

Games falling to the weather

The lousy weather cannot be helping Cardiff City boss Dave Jones in his search for new players with games being called off left, right, and centre. He will have to make do with his wants list and reports and the ever-ready agents looking to put their players in the mix. The weather forecast is not good for the next two week with the football fixtures some already been call off.
Three games in the Championship are off so far,
Preston v Doncaster OFF
Sheff Wed v Peterborough OFF
Watford v Sheff Utd OFF
Reading v Newcastle,OFF

I for one was hoping to see at least one new face for the Blackpool game Saturday, it could still happen but unlikely. I am relying on chairman Peter Ridsdale is in true to his word and there is money for Dave Jones to spend or bring in loan players.

Leeds victory over Manchester United on Sunday could have help Dave Jones interest in United’s midfielder Darron Gibson after Sir Alex Ferguson let ripe on his team in particular his midfield. Maybe the United boss could be more amiable to a loan period with the Bluebirds.

On the upside for Saturday midfielder Gavin Rae is in contention for Saturday after having the plaster cast on his injury hand removed. Rae said: “The cast came off on Tuesday and everything seems to be fine, all I have to do is see the specialist today and then I’ll be available for selection on Saturday against Blackpool.
“I know the lads would have preferred to have played over the weekend against Bristol, but the break has helped me and a couple of other players get the chance to recover and get back to first-team duties which is always good.”

What is making the news at the CCS?

Chairman Peter Ridsdale is coming out fighting after days of headlines from hell. Today he has vowed that the fans would see new faces at the club by the end of the January transfer window. Playing down the talk of the club going by the end of the week and a transfer embargo he said, “We will be bringing in new players this month, I can guarantee that.
“I would go so far as to say that come January 31, we will be holding a press conference to parade the players we have brought in during the month.”

Although Ridsdale sounds upbeat fans are not too sure with the Supporters Trust calling for a meeting to discuss the club’s financial position and to seek assurances about the future. Vince Alm of Cardiff City Supporters club had a private meeting and was reassured the club would not go into administration or anything like that.

Dave Jones has been nominated has one of the Manager Of Month candidates for December along with Chris Hughton of Newcastle, Billy Davies of Nottingham Forest and Sean O'Driscoll of Doncaster Rovers make up the shortlist. Can see Jones win which could be a godsend it has brought bad luck to the winner in the past.

Two names have been linked with the Bluebirds today, all rumours until they are something official out of the club. First up is Dundee Untied defender Garry Kenneth according to the Press and Journal. He has worked his way through the ranks at Dundee United have a short loan to Cowdenbeath in 2007. This season he has been more or less a regular scoring one-goal as manager Dave Jones love affair with Scottish footballers resuming.

The other player is Hull striker Caleb Folan, who Hull paid £1millon to Wigan for back in 2007. He has not had a good season; he started it in the first team, for four games anyway then was loan to Middlesbrough where he played only one game coming on after thirty two minutes in the 5-0 defeat to West Brom. His loan period was cut short after he picked a hamstring injury.

Has for the game on Saturday against Blackpool, if it was down to the pitch the game would be on because the under soil heating (now fully working) is doing its job and there are a few nice shot’s of the pitch on the official websiteSee Here. The club claims the stands and carpark should be clear before Saturday but the game is not be safe, if the police deem the approaches to the ground are unsafe the game could be called off.

Capaldi back at Cardiff

Tony Capaldi has failed in this attempt to find a new club after he returned back to Cardiff at the end of his loan spell with Leeds United. He was hoping he had done enough to earn a permanent deal.

Capaldi has not figured in recent game and was on the bench for the victory over Manchester United on Sunday. But Leeds has a number of players coming back to fitness that have pushed the City player down the packing order. He is looking for more opportunities for first team football and if the opportunity to go out on loan comes again Cardiff boss Dave Jones would likely agree to it. But that will depend on if the taxman story is true or not - if true a transfer embargo could be placed on Cardiff by the Football League.

Dave Jones how as a full squad as all players out on loan as now return to the club.

Matthews being tracked

In the News of the World story on Sunday it mentioned at Cardiff City had agreement with Manchester United to buy Cardiff young star Adam Matthews. The story claimed a £4million offer was on the table which the club denied.

However today chairman Peter Ridsdale revealed there has been interest him from a number of Premier League clubs and both Manchester Untied and Arsenal are watching the siyuation with a tracking brief on him Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale said: “We have had two or three enquiries and I know Manchester United and Arsenal are interested in the lad.
“But there is no agreement with any club, verbal or otherwise.
“We want Adam to stay with Cardiff and that’s what we are hoping will happen.
“Our aim this month is to strengthen the squad and we are working on a list of players Dave Jones has provided.
“Hopefully, we can bring a new signing in this week, in time for the Blackpool match.
“That’s what we are working towards. There have been verbal enquiries about two other Cardiff players, but no formal offers for anybody.
“We don’t want to let any key players go.”

Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson look to be on a coruse for another ‘Ramsey’ type battle for his signature has his days with the club are starting too looked numbered. I do not think he will go now but if his improvement continues maybe in the summer, but that could change if the City were to gain promotion.

Other teams could start to show an interest but unless it is the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool they will not have a chance. The South Wales Echo is suggesting the club value Matthews at £4m but will the club allow a bidding war.

Aaron Ramsey was sold at a fixed price (£5m) and the player was left to choose between Manchester United and Arsenal. It looked like Ferguson had won the player over he was willing to loan him back for a season but the personal touch from Wenger won the day and Ramsey has not looked back since.

Not all big moves ended happier ever after look at Chris Gunter when to Tottenham for £2m the January before Ramsey left he played a few game then a change of manager saw him loaned out to Nottingham Forest before a permanent £1.75 deal.

What Matthews needs to do now is to settle back get on with is football and put dreams of the Premier League on the back burner.

Reid and Delph off the menu ????

Looks like Dave Jones had a wasted journey to watch Aston Villa/Blackburn at the weekend to check-out some possible targets. The players in question were rumoured to be midfielder Steven Reid from Blackburn and youngster Fabian Delph of Aston Villa.

This morning in the Irish media Reid said he wanted to stay with Blackburn and earn a new contract. While Aston Villa are not willing to loan out Delph who was a £6 million summer signing from Leeds.

Looks like Cardiff City boss Dave Jones will have to scrub them off his transfer wants’ list. The list was six strong but could be down to four now and it looks like no new players before Blackpool on Saturday,

Bristol City v Cardiff City game live on the internet

The Bristol City v Cardiff City FA Cup tie will be show live on the internet on FATV. The game on Saturday was to be shown live on S4C but they have not renewed there todate. ***The game is now confirmed live on S4C***

Tuesday 12 January 2010, 7.45pm
Bristol City v Cardiff City – Live on http://www.thefa.com

Jones sniffing out new blood at the Villa/Blackburn game

I knew I should have read the Echo before writing on this blog it would seem Cardiff City boss Dave Jones was at the Aston Villa/Blackburn game Saturday to checkout some players. According to the Echo he was checking out Blackburn’s Steven Reid and Aston Valla youngster Fabian Delph. Both players played in the game although Delph did not return for the second half due to illness.

Has reported earlier on my blog Reid speaking to an Irish newspaper said he was happy to stay at Blackburn and wanted to fight for a new contract. If Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce tells the player he is not part of his future plans then maybe Reid would change his mind. He has been on loan at Championship rivals QPR and Cardiff are interested in a loan deal for the rest of the season.

Delph played against Cardiff earlier in the season went Cardiff visited Villa Park for a Carling Cup game earlier in the season and like youngest these days he is getting his main chance of first team football in cup games although he has a few Premier League games under his belt. The question is will Villa boss Martin O’Neill let him out on loan for the rest of the season.

Ried looking to stay with Blackburn

A rumoured target of Cardiff boss Dave Jones Blackburn’s’ midfielder Steven Reid is reported in the Irish Examiner happy to fight for a place in the Blackburn team. The midfielder has been on loan at QPR played in Blackburn’s 3-1 FA Cup 3rd Round defeat on Saturday. The player is hoping he did enough to show manager Sam Allardyce he is worth a more of a chance to see his name on the team sheet and gain a new contract.

Boss Dave Jones and chairman Peter Ridsdale were both out and about this weekend checking out players on the managers wants list has bringing in new blood is a priority. After the weekend story in the News of the World, the fans will have to wait and see if there is any money in the pot new players.

Both manager and chairman disappeared in the world of football to do their scouting, where they were and who they were watching is there secret but boss Dave Jones would like to see movement on the player front sooner rather than later. Speaking to the press he said, “I’ve given my list to the chairman and we have already started work on that.
“Hopefully, over the next week or so, we will bring in the players we need.”
“I want six new players in during the January transfer window, but I’ll settle for four.
“The chairman has promised that all the money that comes in will go towards bringing in players.
“I don’t know how much is available, but if we get £3m then we can do a lot of damage with that.
“We’ll see who’s around. We have been keeping tabs on a lot of people, but every game I’ve been to I’ve seen another 10 or 15 managers there as well.
“So what I’m looking at I will guarantee you everybody else is looking at. If we’ve got the money, though, we’ll make sure we use it wisely.
“The money we’ve had before we’ve used wisely, but this is the first time in my time here that we’ve come to the January window and we’ve been able to have a push and strengthen the squad.”

While Cardiff are looking to bring in new players they are also looking to loan out some of their younger players to get some experience all players loan out have now return to the club. Tony Capaldi was on the bench for Leeds against Manchester United loan spell ends today so he should be back.

Ridsdale has a lot on his plate over the next few days but said on the subject of new players, “Dave has given me a long list. They are players who fit the bill for Dave Jones and Cardiff City. We will move to get players in as quickly as possible.”

The prize if we beat Bristol City – Leicester City

Having just watched Aaron Ramsey produce a Man of the Match performance for Arsenal against West Ham I could only wish we did not have to sell players to survive and he was still with us.

Oh well the draw for the fourth round we are only in because yesterday’s game was call off Frank Skinner and Paul Elliot were doing the FA Cup Fourth round draw and one of the first out were City, Elliot picked out City meaning a home tie if Cardiff beat Bristol City then Skinner pull out Leicester City – not the best draw in the world but still an incentive to win at Bristol on the 12th.

It’s a case of in could have been if Swansea had beaten Leicester City yesterday but with Cardiff boss laid back approach to the last derby game.

Draw in full
Ties to be played on 23 January 2010 subject to TV Scheduling

1 Southampton v Ipswich Town
2 Reading or Liverpool v Burnley
3 Millwall or Derby County v Brentford or Doncaster Rovers
4 Bristol City or Cardiff City v Leicester City
5 Stoke City v Arsenal
6 Notts County or Forest Green Rovers v Wigan Athletic
7 Scunthorpe United v Manchester City
8 West Bromwich Albion v Plymouth Argyle or Newcastle United
9 Everton v Nottingham Forest or Birmingham City
10 Accrington Stanley or Gillingham v Fulham
11 Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United or Queens Park Rangers
12 Portsmouth or Coventry City v Sunderland
13 Preston North End v Chelsea
14 Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion
15 Tranmere Rovers or Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace
16 Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United

Ridsdale hits back

Cardiff City chairman Peter Ridsdale as responed to the article in today's News of the World and has called in the Police. He believes some of the information must have come from stolen docments from the clubs offices.

The Statemant

Cardiff City Football Club are concerned at an article in one of today's national newspapers. Some of the information contained within this article can only have come from documents which have been stolen from officials at the Club and are currently the subject of a police investigation. We are also taking legal advice with regard to the damaging contents of this article. This information has then been used out of context, is not the latest position, nor does it contain all the current facts and is therefore inaccurate.

We are happy that Cardiff City Football Club's relationships with its creditors including HMRC are such that we will not have any financial issues that will affect the ability of the Club to continue to trade as normal in all aspects of its business.

Peter Ridsdale.

Grounds around the world

This is a ground in the Czech Republic where FSC Libus play

In the foreground you can see the home dugout the 'picnic area' is the away dugout.

One of the stands, the woods boards kind of remind me of the back of the old Grange End

Happy time have gone if you believe the NOTW

Sometimes you just don’t believe thing's are that bad when it comes to Cardiff City but the story being carrying in today’s News of the World will make more than a few Cardiff City fans to miss a heart beat if you believe the article or not.

After being told by chairman Peter Ridsdale not to worry about the tax bill, it's all been sorted it takes a weight off your mind. Then you look at the back of a Sunday newspaper and it's reporting the near death of your football club, the wieght is back. Cardiff have to settle a £2.7m tax bill this week or face going bust. If there is one thing you don’t do in business is mess with the taxman, if you owe them money they will get it back and they love to hand-out fines.

A Cardiff City statement back in December said, “We can confirm that the High Court today formally dismissed the winding up order that had previously been brought by HMRC.
“This was as a result of amicable discussions between the Club and HMRC.
“We are grateful for their co-operation and support.”

I always believed the amount owed was only £1.2m but in least than a month, the bill has shot up by an extra £1.5. It would seem after getting a reprieve from the taxman something not that easy to get both parties agreeed a payment plan with the first payment due on December 22nd, the club missed it.

Therefore, what could happen if this is true; the club will be hit with a winding-up order if they fail to clear their tax bill by the end of this week. The Football League could step in a slap with a transfer embargo, which would kill any chance of new players coming in for January. Anyway there will be no money to buy to players because Ridsdale will be using the money raised from the season ticket deal to pay off the taxman. What has happened to the Malaysian investment since the club gave them the books to look over it's been very quiet, have want they read put them off investing.

In the words of chairman Ridsdale, "We will have the money to pay the Revenue, and we will pay them this week.
"I personally spoke to the Revenue before Christmas. I told them we can pay at the beginning of January and they were happy with that.
"We have a good relationship with them. They know what's happening.
"There will be funds coming in this month and I'm confident there will be no issue with the Revenue after January.
"We will have money to pay our tax bill and we'll have money to do things to the team."

I have always supported Peter Ridsdale but even my loyal is getting a bit thin now. When the South Wales Echo first broke the taxman problems he throw his toys out of the pram and told the fans it was all sorted and wouldn’t speak to the paper for awhile. We were told a deal had been done and half had been paid and the rest over instalments but the club expected to pay it up by January. What fans won’t is facts, the truth, no spin Mr Ridsdale.

It is general known Cardiff’s early season ticket deal has brought in around £2m/£3m in revenue money promised to new players not the taxman. Accorediing to the paper the club cashflow problems stem from the cost of fitting out the new stadium. That is a new one on me I throught were need to sell a player to help paid the wages.

On the subject of the overspend, "Fitting out the stadium cost £7m more than we envisaged so there has been a hangover from that.
"But funds will be coming in shortly and the club is in healthy shape."

This is all bad news for the club, bad publicity it about time the club did something to head off these news stories they need to come clean about the running of the club and finances.

SEE FULL STORY HERE

Where is Dave

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones as a bit of a day off with the Bristol City game called off and with money in his pocket (allegedly) do you think he is off with some shopping in mind.

There are a lot of game he could reach with the game called off just after 10am by my reckoning, he could easy make London and the surrounding areas and after far has Manchester or Sheffield in his search of new blood. Maybe he took Chairman Peter Ridsdale along with his cheque, it would be a nice day out for the two of them.

Tomorrow there will be some more games for him or them to checkout it would be very nice to see one or two new face’s for the Blackpool game next Saturday

New date for FA Cup fixture

Cardiff have a new date for the postponed Bristol City v Cardiff City FA Cup 3th round game, it will now take place on Tuesday Jan 12th 7:45pm.

The match referee Peter Walton declared the pitch unplayable after an inspection at 10am this morning. He said, “The ground staff have made a great effort to get the game on.
“Three-quarters of the pitch is totally playable, but unfortunately at the top (East) end where the sun doesn’t get to it, the ground is very hard.
“In terms of safety and finishing the game, perhaps the game could become a lottery at times in that particular area.
“I wasn’t prepared to gamble and for that reason I’ve called the game off.”

Some Cardiff fans were on the road before receiving information the game had been called off. Fans with tickets have been advised to keep their ticket has they are valid for the rearranged game. If you cannot make the rearranged game and want a refund, the club will announce details in a day or two.

Today’s game was to be televised live on S4C and via FATV on the internet. Everyone will have a wait and see if the game will be screen live. If a reply is need it will be on the 19th so both clubs will be in the draw tomorrow for the 4th Round.

Blake and Capaldi on there way home

Cardiff City will have two extra mouths to feed from next week, as Darcy Blake returns from his loan spell with Plymouth also joining him will be Tony Capaldi whose short loan to Leeds end’s on Monday. Blake will miss Plymouth FA Cup clash with Newcastle today and will be reporting for training Monday at the Cardiff City training ground. Capaldi should miss tomorrows trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United has Cardiff would not want him cup-tied.

Both players were hoping to have their loan deals extended or made permanent. The Plymouth coach Paul Mariner would like to keep Blake but there is a transfer embargo place on them by the League for the non-payment of undisclosed debts. Plymouth are waiting on funds from Japan to “stabilise” their financial position which will then mean the transfer embargo being lifted.

Blake would like to stay and told the Herald Sport, “Hopefully, it will be sorted out before long so I can get back.
“I spoke to Paul Mariner yesterday, and on New Year’s Eve, and he told me he wanted to keep me but something had happened and he couldn’t sign me.
“He said as soon it was sorted out he would phone me straight away. That’s all I know.”
He went on to say, “Hopefully, Cardiff won’t send me out on loan to another club and things with Plymouth are sorted quickly.
“I definitely want to come back because I have really enjoyed myself here. Its fingers crossed now.”

Capaldi is in the same boat; he wants first team football and believes his best chance would be away from the Cardiff City Stadium. He too is hoping for an offer from Leeds to stay on Cardiff boss Dave Jones indercated a week ago there was a chance of a permanent deal there to be had.