Matthews a Villa target

Villa bound

There is a small piece in the Mirror Football Spy section suggesting Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is after Cardiff’s 18-year-old fullback Adam Matthews.

A number of clubs have been linked with the young defender Manchester United and Arsenal have had him watched. According to the article O’Neill first wants to ship out right-back Adam Young who is homesick to return to London and is a target for Fulham and West Ham.

Matthews broke into the first team last season and took is chance with both hands and was keeping out more Senior players out of the starting line up. A lot of fans were surprised he did not figure in the play-off games he was not injury at the time. The club opened contract takes before the end of last season but it is unsure how far the talks have gone but he is just one of a number of players with only a year left on their contracts.

Never dull at Cardiff City

To be honest I am scratching my head over what is happening with the football club in love, Cardiff City. Are the Malaysians waking up to the cost of running a football club especially one with very little income coming in over the next season. With all of season ticket money gone the Malaysians will find little relief on their pockets from that direction it is going to be a hard season ahead. With the wage bill a reported £1.2million a month the comes out at £14.2milloin a year.

Cardiff have a reported 17,000 season ticket with around 3 to 4,000 fans who pay per game, that will generate a drop in the ocean towards the running cost and wages of the club. So the club will have to rely on the merchandise and the corporate end of the club and maximise it the best they can. There will be still large hole in the clubs finances with players the only valuable assist. Cardiff have a new replica shirt coming out for this season but still no date for its release.

But for Joe Ledley the Malaysian owners have stated no players were need to be sold and have turned down offers for Michael Chopra and Peter Whittingham. However the South Wales Echo is reporting today that no more outfield players will be coming in. The only player expected to sign is goalkeeper Tom Heaton so all the talk of Craig Bellamy and lists is looking pretty weak now.

The trip to Malaysia called off for one reason or another but the club reason over logistics problems seem farfetched with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool happily touring there. The club have announced they expect to tour Malaysia next summer. City boss Dave Jones is looking to go to Portugal again and hopefully put together a last-minute two-match tour.

It been confirmed that wages are late again with the club putting it down to do with the money transferring from abroad. Chief executive Gethin Jenkins told BBC Wales,

"Following a delay in international currency transfers... players, staff etc at Cardiff City haven't been paid on the normal due date.

"However, it's anticipated that these matters will be resolved in the next day or so."

We have just got to sit back and way to see what's going to happen. There is a campaign rising from some City fans to bring back Sam Hammam could the nightmare return.

Bluebirds v Swans game live on the BBC

Another Cardiff game switched to Sunday kick-off for a live broadcast.


The local derby with Swansea at the Cardiff City stadium has been moved to Sunday, kick-off 1:15pm. The game will now be shown live on the BBC. The game between the South Wales rivals is a regular for TV between Sky and the BBC with Sky Sports probably showing the return game.

Cardiff City v Swansea City

Novmeber 7th 2010

Kick-off 1:15pm 

Malaysian jolly now planned for next summer

Update - The club have now official announced that the tour of Malaysia is official off and will now take place next summer

If any Cardiff City fans have booked a holiday to watch Cardiff City play in Malaysia, they could be disappointed has the trip to the Far East by the Bluebirds looks almost certain to be scrapped.

It would seem Cardiff City boss Dave Jones was not overly impressed with the logistics involved and his report back to the club as instigated a rethink. With rumours of money troubles within the club two and two make three so most are linking the possible cancelation down to money. There is a reported meeting today to decuss the matter but it looks like Jones will be taking is squad to Portugal for pre-season training now.

City chief executive Gethin Jenkins “Following Dave Jones’ fact-finding trip to Malaysia and a review of the logistics involved, the club has decided to look at alternative options.

“Therefore it is probable we will not be going to Malaysia.”

There is nothing official on the clubs website .

Will today see Joe Ledley go

With an undertow of mega rumours, bad news coming the way of Cardiff City fans so just pray it’s just a shit internet rumour as for the Joe Ledley deal it is moving on according to the press.

One paper as Ledley in talks with Stoke City and a £2.5 million fee for the highly-rated youngster if he signs today before his contract ends tomorrow. There are also suggestions that West Brom have made the same offer to Cardiff hoping to steal their Premiership rivals target. If true the £2.5milliom offer is what the club would have hope for in the way of compensation from a transfer tribunal.

It will be interesting to see if Celtic chuck there hand in allow they were hoping to pick him up more or less free.

The feeling is Stoke have won the day and Tony Pulis (Stoke boss) has won his player. It’s been a long chase since his £6million bid back in the summer of 2008. Dave Jones will be hoping for the deal to go through has he was promised the money for a transfer pot.

Not much happening with the City today

There is not much news doing the rounds about the Bluebirds at the moment. It looks like Hull City have got their man and it’s not Cardiff boss Dave Jones who will be the new boss, but Leicester City Nigel Pearson who is expected to be name the new boss at Hull this week.


On the players front Gillingham are after Darren Dennehy according to Kent Online. The Cardiff defender had a successful loan with the Kent club last season and is a transfer target of boss Andy Hessenthaler. Gillingham chairman Paul Scally is currently having negotiations with Cardiff but admitted to Kent Online that the deal is not straightforward.

He said, "It’s something we’ve been working on. We have asked him to come and he is keen, we have to try and resolve a few issues first."

It’s still all cagey surround Joe Ledley has the player sits on his future. Stoke City are favourites to sign him up. Stoke would give him the Premiership football he has always said he was after. There is a suggestion the player will be taking a medical in the next 48hrs

Celtic were pushing the boat out a few weeks back and with their boss Neil Lennon home from a will holiday he is promising fans he will embark on a Celtic signing spree naming Ledley has a target.

Fixture changes

Cardiff City opening home game of the new season against Sheffield United has been changed to a 12:35 kick-off. The game was moved after it was chosen for live transmission by Sky Sports on Sunday 8th August.

Sky have only published games for August and the BBC who have rights to show ten live games next season have yet to pick any games.


So Cardiff fans will have to wait nearly 24 hours extra before the start of their new season.

In another change Cardiff game against Millwall will now kick-off at 12pm at the Cardiff City stadium on 25th September. Leeds, meanwhile, will now travel to the Cardiff City stadium on Tuesday, January 4 (ko 7.45pm) following a request from local police to move the clash from Monday, January 3.

Is Ledley leaning towards Stoke

Will it be Stoke City

It’s been a quiet week on the Joe Ledley front, will he stay or will he go, who knows.

According to the Daily Mail the pull of the Premier League could win the day with Stoke City the front running. If true Cardiff City will be happy has they can expect a compensation payment hopefully running into a good few millions.

Cardiff City fan and Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has been a long term fan for the Cardiff midfielder having a £6million bid turn down a few season back, but has always maintained an interest in Ledley. When Pulis bid £6million back then he was bidding for a player with potential but now he will get a much better player for less cash.

Cardiff fans are resigned to lose Ledley even has much as Cardiff City boss Dave Jones would like him to stay the new offer is unlikely to change his mind. The feeling among fans that going to the Premiership fair enough but going anywhere else would be a major disappointment. The reason for him leaving the Bluebirds he has insisted was for Premiership football. He has been liked to loads of clubs home and abroad, West Ham, Everton, Fulham, Celtic, Rangers, Roma, Panathinaikos, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Swansea fan and ex-footballer John Hartson thrown in his ten pence worth in an interview in today’s South Wales Echo. He reckons Ledley is to slow for the big time lacking pace and that why bigger clubs have not show interest. He even doesn’t think he is good enough for his old club Celtic noting he would be a decent signing not a great one great with he believes a host of present Celtic players ahead of him.

He also thing Stoke City’s style play will not suit him has they will just kick the ball over his head. So what did he have to say,

“Joe lacks pace.

“He is a left-sided player who keeps it moving.

“To be fair, I do like him.

“He’s experienced after winning plenty of caps for Wales and he’s also played a lot of games for Cardiff.

“But the lack of pace may be the reason bigger clubs haven’t come in for him.

“He’s a hard worker and as honest as the day is long.

“Joe is out of contract so Celtic would get him for next to nothing.

“I think he would be a decent signing. Not a great signing, but a decent one. However, Neil Lennon (the Celtic boss) has got to bring in better than decent signings, but he is held back by his budget.

“I don’t know if Joe is any better than Scott Brown or Aiden McGeady or the others at Parkhead.

“Stoke City are interested, but they’d just hit it over his head at Stoke anyway.”

Quotes from South Wales Echo

Is Bellamy 'a impossible dream'

I suppose the only Cardiff City related story in today is the ‘Exclusive’ with Steve Borley in the South Wales Echo.

If you read yesterday comments about today’s interview then there is not much new to be read. Yes the club are interested in Craig Bellamy and it is not impossible, it could happen but the ball is fully in Manchester City court. Cardiff has a good relationship with the Manchester club after taking Kelvin Etuhu on a season loan deal. With Bellamy on wages of £90.000 with the supposed stumbling block is just how much of a percentage of his wages could the club afforded to pay.

The latest development from Man City boss Roberto Mancini, he has called on the Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp to launch a formal bid for out-of-favour Manchester City star Craig Bellamy.

“It is an impossible dream, but sometimes in football the impossible happens.

“On paper it looks impossible, but you never know with these things.

“A lot of people would have said Manchester City loaning Robinho out to Santos would be impossible, but that is exactly what happen.

“Effectively they sent him home.

“It would take a very generous Manchester City and a very lucky Cardiff City if it were to happen, but we know how superb it would be, particularly for our supporters.

“But Craig is a Manchester City player and we respect that totally.”

It is doubtful that Manchester City would come down to met Cardiff offer if they have made one Cardiff try the big name players but it did really Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler both players were past their best. Whereas Bellamy could cut it in the Premiership next season and if Manchester City were to put him on the Transfer list a host of club would be interested in Welsh international.

Borley confirmed Cardiff City boss Dave Jones will be boss next season and no approach for Hull for official talks over their managerial vacancy. Joe Ledley has been offered a new better deal so it is down to him. There has been lots of rumours about clubs linked to the Cardiff midfielder it’s the Premier League he was always said he wants to play.

The Release

So far none of the players released by boss Dave Jones after the play-off final have yet found a new club like hundreds of other Premiership and League players who are in the same boat. On top of that there are even younger players released from Academies who are in search of a club, many of whom will end up playing non-league.

It’s coming up to the most important time for a lot of released players, their contracts come to a end on the 30th June, making the beginning of July a bit of a mad house. With pre-season training also start early in July mangers will won’t to have the bulk of their targets signed.

Of the players released by Cardiff Warren Feeney looked the closes to finding a club when Bristol Rovers were linked with him as they search for a new striker. There has been interest from elsewhere but the Northern Ireland striker would like to stay base in Cardiff were his family are happy.

Peterborough were rumoured linked with Tony Capaldi briefly but Posh director of football Barry Fry confirmed he had found a new left-back and it was not Capaldi. There has been little in the way of news od clubs for the other three inclueding goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, Striker Josh Magennis and defender Aaron Morris.

All five will be hoping their agents or representatives will be getting a call in the next week or so with an offer or two.

Howard not a target - Steve Borley

Steve Borley

The Echo could be an interesting buy for Cardiff City as they are promoting an exclusive interview with board member and true Cardiff City fan, Steve Borley in tomorrow's edition.

The paper is promising the world on the Craig Bellamy rumour, Hull interest in City boss Dave Jones and the chances of keeping Ledley.


Borley did tell the Echo today Cardiff have no interest in Leicester City striker Steve Howard who was rumours to be a £500,000 target although he has been a target in the past for Dave Jones. On the Leicester City striker Borley said, “Steve Howard is not a target for us this summer.

“The question really is, why would we want to sign a 34-year-old striker?

“The answer is, we don’t want one.

“It is obviously a time of year when players are linked with many clubs.

“More often than not the rumours are not true as is the case with this one.”

Cardiff boss Jones see’ cover for Jay Bothroyd as a priority which could be seen by any City fan at the Play-off final when he limped off with a calf injury, there was just no one on the bench or in the squad to replace him.

Steve Borley is handling Cardiff’s transfer dealings within the new set-up since the Malaysian’s take-over and has a number of transfer targets and expects the transfer dealings to hot up in the next week.

He added: “In my experience deals start to happen at the end of June and the start of July and that is going to be an important period for us.”

Forget Ipswich Chopra told

Russell Osman

In today's News of the World ex-Cardiff City player and manager Russell Osman is sending out a warning to Cardiff striker Michael Chopra about following his old boss to Ipswich. Osman reckons the City striker with be taking a big gamble if he was to join Ipswich.

Ipswich boss Roy Keane has been linked with Chopra for most of the closed season and it was being reported a week or so that they were close to signing the City striker. It turned out to be one of those never ending rumours however Cardiff new chief executive was quick to dismiss the rumour. The Bluebirds have no reason to sell is the massage coming out of the Cardiff City Stadium.

The rumour at Keane time could be up at Ipswich has been ongoing since the end of the season. He had a poor last season going from a lot of people favourites to be there and there about in the promotion fight but he and his team were embroiled in s battle at the other end of the table.

Talking to the paper he said “Ipswich are a big club and would be a great move for Chopra – but I’m not sure if now is the right time.

“Roy is obviously under pressure and it will get worse if he loses his opening few games.

“Chopra would move because of Keane’s influence so as a player you have to weigh up whether that would be wise.

“I think Roy will be in charge for a while but while Cardiff boss Dave Jones has credit in the bank, that’s not the case with Roy.”

Jones linked with Hull again

Going nowhere

CARDIFF City is facing renewed interest from Hull for boss Dave Jones according to press speculation today. The lateness chatter comes via the Hull Daily Mail yesterday and picked up today in local and national press.

The Humberside paper was quoting a source trumpeting Jones as the ideal manager for the job in hand as a “proven manager”. Hull who are working under self-imposed financial restrictions after relegation for the Premier League last season have been try all summer to off load some of their top wage earns. They like the thought of Jones because he can work on a tight budget and has a nose for a bargin in the transfer markets.

The Hull chairman is reported has saying he would be willing to match Jones the reported £750,000-a-year wages James is reputed to recive from Cardiff City.  However he could not afford to paying compensation if Cardiff demanded it.

They (Hull Daily Mail) have also reported in the same article that the Cardiff City boss has a strained relationship with the clubs new Malaysian owners. Jones is in fact out in Malaysia a guest of Vincent Tan and Tien Ghee has he checks out facilities before the pre-season tour of Malaysia.

Jones is reported to have met with the Malaysian backers while in the country for informal talks and has press the case for his squad and further signings. There is internet chatter that the City has been told they can up the offer for Bellamy and a better offer to Joe Ledley. They have shown their commitment to Dave Jones by their refusal to sanction sale of players.

Cardiff has faced interest in Dave Jones before with West Brom being the closest to steal him away from the Bluebirds . There is no advantage for him to taking a job with a rival Championship club who are expected to have a tough time next season. Has it looks at the moment Jones is going to have the squad he wanted minus Ledley maybe. If he can keep hold of Michael Chopra and Peter Whittingham and add a few new players Cardiff could again be a force in the Championship again this season coming.

Kennedy gets a year’s contract extension

Sticking with the Bluebirds

Cardiff City have offered defender Mark Kennedy a year’s contract extension which the player as accepted. Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has now secured the experience defender services until June 2011.

Kennedy, 34, joined the Bluebirds back in 2008 for Crystal Palace and soon became established in the Cardiff defence. In the 70 plus games he has played in the City colours he has never scored a goal.

He has had an interesting journey to Cardiff City with his career starting way back in 1992 making his debut for Millwall. Liverpool snapped him up for £1.5million but he was not get the opportunities of fist team football and was loaned out to QPR. He returned to Liverpool and but was soon on the road to the capital when a £1.75million offer from Wimbledon was accepted.

It was a short stay with the crazy gang, only a season before he was back up north with Manchester City for a knocked down fee of £1million. He help them to promotion to the Premier League but relegation the showing season and a change of manager he was soon on the move again.

Next port of call was Wolves where the then boss Dave Jones paid £2million he was there for awhile from 2001 until 2006 and played his part in the yo-yo of promotion and relegation between the championship and the Premier League. It was back to London and Crystal Palace on a free transfer in the summer of 2006.

At Palace he slipped straight in the first team but a new manager saw him sideline until his old boss from is Wolves days Dave Jones now at Cardiff City.

Burnley given the brush off

He is staying .... for now?

The Bluebirds were quick to pour cold water on the rumour concerning Peter Whittingham and Burnley. Yesterday it was revealed in of some the national press that Burnley had or were about to pull in a offer £1.75 for the Cardiff midfielder.

If Cardiff were anyway interested in the offer from Championship rivals Burnley they would have to offer a lot more cash as the offer was way below the clubs valuation. Cardiff boss Dave Jones wants to add to his squad not to sell so far he has signed goalkeeper keeper Tom Heaton.

Burnley could be trying to unsettle Whittingham who only as a year left on the contract and is about to start negotiation on a new one. Jones would want to settle the transfer talks before the start of the season and not having ongoing like with Joe Ledley contract talks last season.

A number of players will see their contracts up for renewal some might be allowed to run their contracts down while others will need theirs sorted asp.

TV rights

There is no change in the TV rights for this new season with Sky Sports and BBC Sports still in partnership until 2012. Once again Sky will show the bulk of the live game some 65 and Football League play-offs - including all three finals - exclusively live. Sky has the rights to show live Carling Cup matchs exclusively until the semi's.

The BBC will be showing 10 exclusive first pick League matches for the upcoming season along with shared coverage with Sky for the two Carling Cup semi finals over 2 legs and the Carling Cup Final from Wembley.

Two games normal guaranteed to be picked for live broadcast are the two derby games with Swansea. The 6th November clash at Cardiff City Stadium also clashes with Welsh rugby's scheduled international fixture against Australia at the Millennium Stadium.

The FA Cup rights are under the control of ITV and ESPN.

Someone targeting Whittingham again

Wanted man for £1.75m

Burnley has made a reported bid of £1.75million for Cardiff's Peter Whittingham according to the Sun today. I can't see Cardiff City boss Dave Jones wanting to lose one of this star's of last season especially to a Championship rival

He is also want by Nottingham Forest if you believe the rumour mill and they priced the deal at £2million. Whittingham only has a year left on his current contract and the club want to open negotiations on a new one.

The City midfield was Championship and was club top scorer last season, with 25 goals his best from since joining the Bluebirds from Aston Villa. He cost £350,000 to sign for the Bluebirds.

Yesterday Cardiff City chief executive Gethin Jenkins has fired off a broadside on all the potential bidders after striker Michael Chopra. He probably meant it to cover all players with a price being placed on their heads by others. He sent out a statement that Cardiff City doesn’t need to sell.

Unleash the dogs of war - it's back on the 7th August

The season is starting to feel real now with the fixtures out for next season. I had a bit of a twinge yesterday with the Carling Cup, with the league fixtures out, pre-season training a few weeks away the start of the season (7th August) I am on track and back in Championship mode.

When I see the fixtures for the first time I am always drawn to the Christmas games. I have fond memories of Boxing Day and New Years Day games. This season we are home on Boxing Day with Coventry making the trip to the CCS. The inbetweeny game City are off to Watford and on the 1st Januray it is the short trip over the brigde to face Bristol City. On the Monday 3rd Leeds United will be at the Cardiff City stadium.

Ok its derby time and we still have the Welsh derby plus the sevenside derby we play Swansea at home at the beginning of November the return trip will be at the beginning of February. Bristol City visit Cardiff 16th Oct and the Bluebirds make the trip over the bridge to Bristol on New Year’s Day.

It always good to play the first game at home and we have Sheffield United visiting last game of the season is not at home Cardiff has to travel to Burnley.

I’m happy with our fixtures and yes I did nip on the Premiership fixtures to take a look at Blackpool fixtures for ‘a what if’ moment, but was I jealous, not really Wigan home. I have it to look forward to next season.

**All the fixtures are subject to change owing to eggby and the Sky and the BBC**

Full fixture list from BBC

Hands off he's ours

Cardiff City chief executive Gethin Jenkins has fired off a broadside on all the potential bidders for striker Michael Chopra tell them to lay-off he is not for sell.

For the last few weeks the rumour mill has had Ipswich close to signing the City striker for £4million but today Jenkins said Cardiff have received no bid for the player. He also said the Bluebirds ‘don't need to sell’ which will please the many Cardiff City fans who believe there would be a loss of some of the more valued players.

Jenkins told BBC Sport, “We're not in a position where we need to sell.

"With the new investment we're building a strong platform to go forward.

"And Michael Chopra is contracted to us and the reports of the bid are just speculation."

Hopefully it’s the same with other player’s link with other clubs like Whittingham. Some players are on the last year off their contract which the club need to concentrate on along with look to bring new blood.

Jenkins also said, "The first thing is to get players in for next season then negotiate with the players who've only got one year left."

The list of player out of contract next summer is Jay Bothroyd, Stephen McPhail, Gavin Rae, Chris Burke, Peter Whittingham, Kevin McNaughton, Mark Kennedy, Darcy Blake and Adam Matthews.

One of the major questions left is what is going to happen with Joe Ledley? I don’t think there is a Cardiff fan anywhere that believes he will be a Bluebird next season. The club are waiting to see if there will be any compensation due from the move or will he walk away totally free.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones handed in is ‘wants’ list before he when on his holiday. He was said to have a list of ten players one of which has now been filled with the signing of keeper Tom Heaton. Jones is away from the office at the minute on a reconnaissance mission looking for potential training facilities and accommodation in Malaysia ahead of the clubs pre-season tour.

Cardiff face Burton Albion in the Carling Cup

I don’t think Cardiff City boss Dave Jones could have asked for more than a home game in the opening round of the Carling Club. Burton fans will be happy to have pulled one of the draws of this round and to visit a magnificent stadium like the CCS.

Cardiff City has never played Burton Albion before they only entered the league in 2008/09 after securing promotion from the Conference as Champions. There manager is Paul Peschisolido a much travelled footballer who played for a host of clubs from the USA, Canada, England and Ireland.

In Ireland he was assistant manager with Irish club St Patrick's Athletic but left for personal reason but three days later, he was appointed manager of Burton Albion following the departure of Nigel Clough. Last season their first in the league they managed a min-table finish in the league and lost 5-1 to Reading last season in Carling Cup.

Peschisolido married Karren Brady, they met while he was playing for Birmingham and she was Managing Director, she later sold him to West Bromwich Albion.

Heaton a Bluebird

Back as a Bluebirds

Cardiff City have made their first signing with Manchester United goalkeeper Tom Heaton has joined the Bluebirds. He will official join on the 1st July after Cardiff saw off a number of interested parties to secure his signature. City boss Dave Jones released his other keeper Peter Enckelman a few weeks ago who could not displace Marshall in goal.

Heaton was released by United after never playing for them. Last season he was loaned out three times to QPR Rochdale and Wycombe. He will now have to press City No1 David Marshall for the top spot and hopefully he will provide stronger competition than Enckelman did.

Heaton was on loan with the Bluebirds in 2008/09 season which was a crazy time for keepers at Cardiff. Before the start of that season Dave Jones had let Michael Oakes leaving Enckelman was then the only senior keeper with the club after he signed after a loan spell with Cardiff the previous season. Heaton joined the City on a season loan from Manchester United and by the start of the season he was No1. He played every game expect the Swansea League Cup game until the Plymouth away game.

He was dropped after the poor game he had against Plymouth and Enckelman was back in the top spot until he picked up a injury and Heaton was back in for the 4-0 massacre at Arsenal in the FA Cup. Cardiff had already snapped up Dimitrios Konstantopoulos on loan for Coventry from under the nose of Swansea who had just missed out resigning him on loan.

In his first game he scored a own goal in the 2-2 draw with Wolves it was poor mistake and Dave Jones was not happy after the game. A few weeks later at Norwich Konstantopoulos was put out on gardening duties after that. Boss Dave Jones must have seen it coming as he jump back into the loan transfer market bring in Stuart Taylor. The Aston Villa keeper was thrown straight into the next game but he hit his waterloo in the 6-0 defeat against Preston, Heaton finished off the last three games.

Boss Dave Jones told the Cardiff Official website: "United had offered him a new contract, but Tom's attitude was that he wanted to play, which says a lot about him, and when on to say, Dave Jones on to say, "I'm pleased that we have secured Tom's services from Manchester United.

"We all know about the lad from his time on loan here and know that we have signed a very talented young player who can offer plenty of competition for Marshall in goal.

"It's now a case of Tom and Dave working hard with our goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson, battling to claim a starting place in the squad.

"We look forward to seeing him for pre-season training and know that we have a real prospect for years to come."

Up-date pre-season schedule

Cardiff City has added a game against Spanish Lige Deportivo La Coruna at the Cardiff City Stadium on July 31.
Bath City v Cardiff City 8 July Thursday


Malaysian national U19 v Cardiff City 15th July youth team (unconfirmed by the club)

Malaysian national team v Cardiff City 17th July (unconfirmed by the club)

Notts County v Cardiff City 24th July Saturday

Cardiff City v Deportivo La Coruna  31st July Saturday

Pre-season home game is Deportivo

Update - Cardiff have name Deportivo La Corna who will be visiting the Cardiff City stadium on Saturday 31st July

Cardiff is close to signing up the eve-of –season opponents to played at the Cardiff City stadium next month. The Echo is reporting Cardiff are in the final stages of signing the contract for the game with the unknown team.

Last season it was Celtic this season it could be a top European club we will have to wait and see. For the last few season it is normal for Dave Jones teams to play only one home pre-season game. With the new stadium opening last season Cardiff need to play a number of home games to build up the capacity of the ground for health and safety reason.

Would be nice if it was one of the top teams in Europe like Real Madrid, AC Milan or Roma if they were to sign Ledley for free it would be nice for them to help the club with a plum friendly.

Who will City draw in the Carling Cup

We get our first fixture of the new season on Wednesday and even although it is the Carling Cup I can wait. Round 1 is split into North and South to cut down on the traveling. Relegated Portsmouth are in the draw for Wednesday (seeded) while Burnley and Hull City who were also relegated have been handed a bye into round two.

Cardiff could be drawn home or away for this 1st round game with manager Dave Jones hoping for a home tie.

Cardiff are seeded so the will be playing any of the southern region un-seeded teams below

Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient, Exeter City, Notts County, AFC Bournemouth, Dagenham & Redbridge, Gillingham, Wycombe Wanderers, Southend United, Aldershot Town, Port Vale, Northampton Town, Shrewsbury Town, Burton Albion, Hereford United, Torquay United, Barnet, Cheltenham Town, Stevenage, Oxford United,

No teams stick out among them there are a few closer than others at would be good if we do play away from home. I hope Dave Jones takes the cup campaign seriously because with the bigger clubs taking a less than serious view of the competition it very open to win. There is a European spot up for grubs for the winner.

It just goes on and on

Homeless soon

Could this be the week you see the end neverending story of where Joe Ledley will be plying his trade next season? He should be home from is holidays’ this week and could have to trip to Roma pencil in if the rumoured of interest are strong enough.

The South Wales Echo reporting he is making a trip out to speak to the Serie A club later this week. On top of that the rumour is that Stoke City’s manager Tony Pulis is entering the race for the midfielder. It not the first time Pulis has been linked with Ledley having had a number of offers turn down before, the difference this time is he doesn’t need to make a offer just talk Ledley into the move. Stoke would need to make a compensation payment to the Bluebirds but nowhere near the £6million they where will to pay a few season ago, and he is a better player now.

Stoke are hoping a four-year contract and matching Celtic wages offer of £25,000 a week contract could be enough to push them to the front of the queue. Of course Celtic just need to win the player around and could use the fact they have access to regular Champions League football allow Celtic as never progress too far in the competition.

The Premiership and Stoke would see Ledley face the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal week in week just like playing regular Champions League football . It has always been the reason he has given for leaving Cardiff City, Premiership football. Fans have resigned themselves to losing him and the reported offer on the table by the Bluebirds of £11,000 per week deal with £2,000 appearance money and winning bonuses on top makes it a certain he will be off.

The dark horse in Ledley whole future is Roma it is difficult to say if they are interest has the Italy press are quiet on the subject.

Not much in the Sunday papers - I wonder why?

In the News of the World (Wales Edition) has two stories surrounding Cardiff City players. One involving Joe Ledley is an old one that could bring some joy to the Cardiff City bank manager and boss Dave Jones. Ledley could snub a deal with Celtic for a four-year deal with Premiership club Stoke City.

The Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has been a long term fan of the Cardiff City midfielder and once made a £6million offer for him back in 2008. A move to the Premier League for Ledley would mean Cardiff would receive compensation with the money going to Dave Jones who has been promised some of any transfer cash come in.

It’s down to Ledley now he must make a decision soon per-season training is only weeks he needs to sort his future out because it’s not going to involve Cardiff City next season. Stoke are offering what he wants Premier League football.

The other story is Cardiff attempt to line up a deal with Peter Whittingham who will be out of contract next season.

Whittingham is also drawing interest from a number of other teams Birmingham, West Ham, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Burnley have all been linked to some extent. However Cardiff plan to open talks this month about a new contract. Cardiff wants to keep him and also need get him back to stop him walking free next summer.

Whittingham is wants to stay he is enjoying being at Cardiff and according to a source he told the paper, “He’s just had the season of his life at Cardiff so he’s keen to stay”.

He joined the Bluebirds from Aston Villa and did have a bid of a love/hate relationship with the fans at first but won around the majority with his performances and speculator goals last season.

Cut out the horn

Death to the Vuvuzela horn

Vuvuzela horns - I hate them with a passion and they should be banned from football. They are total spoiling watching the World Cup for me, I don’t thing I have heard one chant since the games stated. It sound like a nest of hornets buzzing away, just one mass noise of these things.

A few season back a version of them were being sold at Welsh internationals games much to the irritation of most of the crowd and were soon to be hear a Cardiff games. They then started to disapeared from ground but will these youngesters be dust them down for next season. I sure someone will be selling them outside the ground of the back of the World Cup

Tests show long-term exposure to the instrument can result in hearing loss - at 127 decibels it is louder than a rock concert at 120dB. An expert said: "Hearing damage can occur in 15 minutes."

There is a Jones rumour today

Wanted Man

It’s a case of out of the pan and into the fire today with Cardiff City boss Dave Jones linked with the manager’s job at Hull City.

He is rumoured to be on a three-man shortlist as the Hull chairman steps up his search for a new manager. Paul Hart remains the front-runner according to reports and they are also interested in ex-Coventry boss Gary Speed. If they do want to talk to Jones, Hull will have to make an official approach to Cardiff City. Jones recently committed himself to Cardiff City it would be real unlikely the new boardroom would agree to let Jones speak to the Humberside club. The Western Mail is suggesting Hull couldn’t match the wages which are bumper according to the paper.

Hull are looking for a new boss to take them straight back to the Premier League after suffering relegation last season. They might have the parachute payment but they have their finance troubles with a major need to reduce their wage bill. They have more debt than the Bluebirds and have yet to stable the ship.

Heaton returning to Cardiff

Heaton as a Bluebird

Cardiff City is today linked with goalkeeper Tom Heaton who spent a season on loan with the Bluebirds for the 2008/09 season. He played some 24 games while with the Bluebirds with a varying degree of success and Cardiff City boss Dave Jones needs a back-up for No1 David Marshall.

Heaton has been released from his club Manchester United he is available free and Cardiff will have competition for his signature if the rumour is true. Last season United boss Alex Ferguson loan him out three times, a three month emergency loan deal at the start of the season.

Next he was off to Rochdale for a few months returning in January and was loaned out again this time to Wycombe Wanderers for the rest of the season. Before coming to Cardiff he had a loan spell with Swindon. He has never player for United in the first team.

If South Wales Echo are right he could be Dave Jones’ first signing.

City head to Bath City for friendly

Twerton Park

Bath City has confirmed they will face Cardiff City at home Thursday, July 8. Bath are expecting Cardiff to have a full-strength team for the evening kick-off.

Cardiff tend to play Bath City regular as pre-season fixture and it got me thinking when was the last time we had play them in a full on competitive game? We have never met in a league but did during the Second World War when football was regionalised.

The only competitive game between the two clubs was at Ninian Park in 1992 the season Cardiff were Champions of the new Division Three but a million miles from Champions when it came to the FA Cup. Bath City were the visit to Ninian Park for this first round game and on paper it was a walkover. However it was anything but has Cardiff crash out 3-2 to the non-league visitors and it was not Eddie May used a weaken team

Gavin Ward

Paul Ramsey – Derek Brazil – Roger Gibbins (Jason Perry) - Damon Searle

Neil Matthews – Paul Miller – Cohen Griffiths (Chris Pike) - Robbie James

Carl Dale – Nathan Blake

Goal scorers Paul Miller and Nathan Blake Att 4.506

-------------------------

 

Bath City v Cardiff City 8 July

Malaysian national U19 v Cardiff City 15th July youth team (unconfirmed by the club)

Malaysian national team v Cardiff City 17th July (unconfirmed by the club)

Notts County v Cardiff City 24th July

Cardiff have yet to announce who Cardiff will be playing for the traditional home game before the start of the new league season it is normal a European team.

Feeney to Rovers

Has rare as a dodo
Feeney in a Cardiff shirt

Ex- Cardiff City striker Warren Feeney who was released a few weeks ago could have found a new home with Bristol Rovers. Rovers have missing out on a few targets Rovers are once again taking a look at Feeney.

Feeney didn’t have to best of time with the Bluebirds he was farmed out on loan for most of the three years he was with Cardiff. Although he did manage to keep his place in the Northern Ireland squad and score goal wherever he end up. He did have chances to move on while on loan, Swansea was interested but an injury knocked that on the head. Next Dundee United where he spent a season on loan want him be the wages he was on at Cardiff scared them off. Leeds show interest but he fail their medical and need an operation to sort out the problem.

Last season after regaining is fitness he had a very short and unfruitful loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday it look like he would be off again Stockport County and Bournemouth were mentioned but boss Dave Jones decided to keep him for cover with no new signing to bolster his squad. Feeney when on to have his best period with Cardiff most from the bench but he never managed to score a goal for Cardiff.

The 29-year-old Northern Ireland striker has commented he would not want to up root his family from the Cardiff area and would favour a club within travelling distant of his home.

Taxman paid .... another step forward

Cardiff City and the taxman are now friends after the debt of £1.9million was paid off. Next the club needs a receipt stamped as paid and tell the court everyone is happy next week. Then the club can pass it on to the Football League so the transfer embargo can be lifted and do some shopping in the transfer market.

Chief executive Gethin Jenkins told the Echo, “I can confirm that the HMRC petition debt has been settled in full.”

Now City boss Dave Jones can now knuckle down to his transfer ‘wanted’ list but with uncertainty over the future of some of his players who are attracting  offers from  club so he will need to reign back a bit. Joe Ledley looks a certainly to go with Jones hoping for a Premier League club to put in a strong offer in to temp him from Celtic. The issue with Michael Chopra has to be clarified.... is he for sell? Ipswich are making all the right noises that he is and if the bid is right they can have him.

Fans have been lead to believe that any major transfer money must be gathered via the sale of players. The Malaysians plan to run a tight ship financial and there has already been some pruning of staff at the club. According to the Echo Dato Clan will be returning to Cardiff for talks over the club’s financial future.

Interest in Ledley confirmed and Austin denial

Dread times are here not because Joe Ledley is leaving here was always going but now he has been named boss at Celtic Neil Lennon has confirmed he is interested in Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ledley.

So far Celtic are the only team to come out say they would like to sign him and because they will have to paid no cash to Cardiff who will miss out on poetical millions in compensation.

Lennon said during his first news conference as official manager, "He is one that interests us.

"We have made inroads [in terms of bringing new players in] and we will get cracking on that as soon as today is finished."

Plenty of clubs have been linked with the Cardiff City midfielder Rangers plus Premier League clubs Everton, West Ham United, Blackburn Rovers Wigan Athletic and Stoke City all are rumours most a buy but not with Cardiff at the moment. Any Premiership clubs would have to paid compensation to Cardiff but they still would get them at a bargain price nowhere near his true value.

The rumours go beyond the shores of the UK with Italian giants Roma named as an interested party in signing the Welshman along with teams in Greece and Turkey.

Swindon have come out was a strong denied to the reports over Charlie Austin in today’s press. In the press (South Wales Echo) he was linked as a possible target has a replacement for Michael Chopra if he was to leave the South Wales club for Ipswich.

Talking to BBC Wiltshire chairman Andrew Fitton said, "I'm amused. I think someone should ask Charlie. It's a bad story put in by somebody who wants to unsettle the player."

Me thinks the chairman doth protest too much it only rumour mill time and he has a player of some note who will interest a few managers.

Whittingham rumour

Nottingham Forest are looking to strengthen their team at the expense of the Bluebirds with a link to Peter Whittingham in today’s press. Ex-Forest player and media pundits Garry Birtles has called on his old club to step up their interest in the Cardiff midfielder.

Whittingham was Championship and club top goal scorer last season and with only a year left on his contract putting pressure on the club to get him to sign a new one or sell. Cardiff can ill afford for him to walk away free next summer, there is still a chance Joe Ledley can still go free if he goes anywhere but the English system with Cardiff losing millions.

Whittingham would be another player on boss Dave Jones ‘keepy’ list has he fights to keep his team together. Forest boss Billy Davies has a £2million bid in mind, but surely he is worth more than that. Birtles seems to think so call for the Forest boss to raise his offer has he believes the midfielder could help secure Premiership football.

The Forest boss is away off on the valuation of the City’s start midfielder there has been speculation of up to £6million but the club could be willing to listen for £4million plus .

Austin a new target

A Robin to a Bluebird

Sometime has you turn to the Echo thinking what next ............. another rumour.

Every Cardiff City fan is expecting Michael Chopra to go to Ipswich but we are still wanting on what the player feels about a transfer. Does he what a move? Why would he transfer out of a club expecting to be in the promotion mix to a team last season that was struggling at the wrong end of the league table? City boss Dave Jones as said in the past he didn’t want to lose his star striker and now he is back at work after his holiday he can throw himself into plans for next season.

Cardiff are rumoured to have line-up replacement for Chopra  and it’s not Craig Bellamy news of whom has dry up a bit but Swindon 20 year-old hotshot Charlie Austin. Who? Well he was plucked out of non-league football from Poole Town on the recommendation of the Swindon chairman who was chairman Hungerford Town when he played for them. He had a pre-season trial with Bournemouth who wanted to sign him but were under a transfer embargo so could not strike a deal. He when back to Poole Town for the start of last season and in all game scoring 18 goals in 11 games.

Swindon offered Austin a trail in September and sign for an undisclosed fee with a contract until the end of the season. However he was rrewarded with an extended two-and-a-half year contract with the club in February 2010. It is very likely at if Swindon were to be willing to sale Cardiff would not be a loan to show interest. Swindon will be looking for offer of a million plus for their striker.

Austin has come a long way in just one season of league football this time last year he was a Poole Town player and working as a bricklayer to make a living. If a deal can be done he would have risen from non-league football to within one promotion from the Premier League pretty impressive.

Stats

He played 33 games in total 6 off the bench scoring 20 goals.

Pre-season trip to Notts County

We have our first UK based pre-season friendly announced on the official website and it is trip to Nottingham.

Cardiff are facing the other Nottingham team, not Forest but their neighbours across the river Notts County on Saturday July 24th, kick off 3:00pm. County have been wallowing in the lower in division for a number season and finally broke out last season as Champions of League Two.

So along with the Malaysian tour games the club have line-up three games,

Malaysian national U19 v Cardiff City 15th July youth team (unconfirmed by the club to date)

Malaysian national team v Cardiff City 17th July (unconfirmed by the club to date)

Notts County v Cardiff City 24th July

Cardiff linked with Celtic left-back

The differances is ... he is a
Englishman playing in Scotland

Another day another rumour with Celtic left-back Lee Naylor in the sights of the rumour mill today. Of course it is a rumour but he can leave on a free transfer and plays in Scotland that’s enough to City boss Dave Jones’ hairs stand on the back of his neck. He left previous club Celtic by mutual consent but Cardiff will have to wait until the transfer embargo is lifted allow Cardiff can talk to players. Nottingham Forest are reported to be interested in bring Naylor back to the Championship.

I thought Jones was after a right-back but Naylor is a left-back but he is a Jones old boy playing for Wolves when the Jones was the boss at the midlands club. The 30 year-old would have to battle out with City other aged left-back Mark Kennedy and Kevin McNaughton vying for that spot.

Naylor came through the ranks at Wolves and while Jones was there he was a first team regular and right up until his move north of the border. He move to Celtic for only £600,000 but hit the floor running going straight into the first team but over the last few season his appearances have slowly ceased somewhat.

How bad does Keane want Chopra

Will he be at Ipswich next season

Like a Mountie has Ipswich boss Roy Keane got his man for the second time, could be. Cardiff have valued there star striker Michael Chopra at £4million and Ipswich are rumoured to have match it or just better it. The bidding started at a lowly £3million and when to £3.75million over the weekend now push on to or past City valuation. Now it's looking likely the player will be going it be would irony he could be at Portman Road while Keane is suffering with tabloid and internet speculation that he could be sacked and Tony Mowbray and Steve Cotterill rumour to be waiting in the wings.

Some fans thought the days of selling a player was over with the Malaysians in control but they are expecting to run a tight ship financial with the HMRC debt sitting in the bank and will be paid when needs be.

Any transfer money will be given to Cardiff City boss Dave Jones to use in the transfer market for new signings and with other players with offers in or rumoured to be in a few more could go as well. Will the full £4million but going in transfer fees and will any wages to come out of it.

Will he be at Ipswich next season

Can’t by much with that sort of money and with City going to need a new striker if Chopra goes and while Cardiff are on an transfer embargo are rivals a active in the transfer market. We had a squad last season that was good enough to get the club within one game of promotion. Automatic promotion last season even with the new blood promised (never received) by ex-chairman Peter Ridsdale was there going to be easy with both Newcastle and West Brom dominating the league.

This season the Championship looks wide open and the start will be very interesting to see now the league will pan-out. We must go for automatic promotion next season it has to be the one goal of the club, if it’s the play-offs again so be it.

Adam Matthews to Inter

Who is chasing me

So how is this story making the News of the World? First you have ex-Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez who could be the next manager of Inter Milan or not and  Matthews.

Benitez by all accounts is a huge fan of the young defender who has Manchester United, Arsenal and Aston Villa tracking him along with Liverpool who a source told the paper who was preparing a bid.

Cardiff value the talented youngest who 18 years-old is £4million but with so many team linked hopefully for the club it could turn into a bit of a healthy auction. The disappearance of Matthews towards the end of last season left a lot of fans puzzled his last start was in April in the 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest and furthered in the game against Derby in May coming off the bench. Many thought he would be part of the play-off squad after his explosive breakthrough into the first team last season that brought a host of scouts to check him out.

So what has the source have to say on the subject? “Don’t be surprised if Rafa tries to sign Adam Matthews.

“He really likes him as a player and was looking to take him to Liverpool.

“It he becomes manager of Inter then there’s a real chance he could try and take Adam with him, his chief scout, Eduardo Macia has watch Adam and thinks the world of him.”

The young defender as a year left on his present contract the club are believed to be in talks about a new one. He as said before he was happy at Cardiff City learning his trade and knows the best chance for first team football is to stay where he is.

Could Keane get his man again

Could he be off again

According to the press Ipswich boss Roy Keane is move ever closer to Cardiff City valuation of Michael Chopra.

Keane is on his second attempt to try and tempt Cardiff to sell Chopra earlier offering £3million now offering a rumoured £3.75million. The valuation currently on the City striker is £4million and there is still no guarantee Cardiff boss Dave Jones and the new board would want to sell.

Will Dave Jones want to break up the Chopra and Bothroyd partnership? I would think not, that could change if the Bellamy rumour came true but that looks unlikely. For the deal to happen Manchester City will have to expect a loan deal with a percentage of the wages been paid. The percentage is thought to be the stumbling block and stopping the talks progressing any further.

If Ipswich pull off the deal it will be the second time Keane had bought Chopra having paid Cardiff £5million to take him to Sunderland when he was manager there. That at price £4million Keane will have spent £9million shopping at Cardiff City.

Clarkies on the move but not to worry

“It’s bootiful”

In the book of revelation it says ‘If two become one the city on the Taff will be no more’ scholars are led to believe is prediction doom surrounds the Clarks Pie.

The prophecy seems to be bearing some fruit with the shocking news that the two Clark’s bakeries at both shop are set to merge the production of the famous Cardiff pie. All the pies and pasties will now be made at Victoria Park shop. The Grangetown shop will remind open and supplied with pies, the Grangetown production line and staff moving to the Vicky Park shop.

When it comes to a Clarkies Pie you find most fans can be split into two camps base on taste anyway the Victoria Park shop or the Grangetown premises people are adamant they can taste different even if the recipe is said same for both pies. There is another camp those how couldn’t gave a flying feck as long as the trademark Clarpie stamped on the bottom of the pie. Fans of each pie are wondering if there will be two production lines each producing their own pies or could they club together and create a new uber-pie.

I am split over the shop I love the filling from Victoria Park but prefer the pasty from Grangetown which I find lighter however the pasties are the same in both shops and I do love pasties or two. The only thing missing is a sausage roll maybe they could set up a research and development unit and look into the possibility.

Dennis Dutch said from Clark’s pie HQ, “It’s an exciting time for the company.

“Merging our two bakeries will focus expertise on one site, which will help to make us fitter for the future.

“While there will be some reorganisation of staffing, there will be no compulsory redundancies and, so far as our loyal customers are concerned, business will continue.

“We can reassure customers that the recipe, which makes Clark’s Pies unique, will remain unchanged.”

What some people will do for a Clarks pie when the shop is shut

Andy Griffin just a rumour

A tad to far

The South Wales Echo revealed yesterday a possible target of Cardiff City boss Dave Jones was Andy Griffin. The Stoke right-back joined Championship rivals Reading on loan in January and played against the Bluebirds in the 0-0 towards the end of last season.

Reading want to take him back and throw their hat into the ring publicly after the rumour about the possible interest from Cardiff. Reading first team coach Nigel Gibbs said: “We’ve always got lists of different players we’re interested in. But we have thrown our hat into the ring with Andy Griffin and it’s no secret how much we want him.

“We will react to the situation regarding him for now rather than being pro-active. Andy was a great signing when we brought him on loan in January. He was one of the most reliable players we had.

“His positional awareness was fantastic and I remember when I went to see him play for Stoke reserves writing exactly that in my notes.

“Brian’s knowledge of players from his scouting days is second to none. You’re never 100-per-cent sure about any signing until they come to the club.

“But we had a lot of good references on Andy from other people. He is a total professional and his experience was vital for the group.”

Both clubs could be disappointed has the player family are happy where they are with their kids settled in school. He doesn’t want to disrupt his family and from that it’s sound like he would like to stay in or close to Stoke. He said before the Cardiff speculation, “The family is in Stoke, the children go to school around the corner, so I don't want to uproot the family.

"Reading manager Brian McDermott has said he would like me back and has let that be known.

"He knows me as a character and what kind of player I am, but we will have to wait and see what happens on that one. I'm not going to just dismiss an offer from them, but I'm not sure what will happen over the summer. I'll stay by the telephone and wait and see.

"I'd have to look at Reading. The location is not perfect, but if that one was to progress further then it's something I would have to take into consideration.

"The bottom line for me is that I want to play football and I've got to say I enjoyed doing that again while I was at Reading."