McCormack move to Leeds completed

Scotland international striker Ross McCormack has joined Leeds United for an undisclosed sum from Cardiff City with the deal completed at lunchtime.

Rumours has it that he left for just £300k, a healthy profit on the £100k paid to Motherwell when Cardiff signed him but a far cry from the £4M bid turned down from Hull this time last year.

However Ross' star has waned with off field self inflicted problems affecting his football and he found himself completely out of contention this season so better to lose his £8k a week wage than keep him. I'm sure City will have a suitable sell on clause for a player very capable of settling down and rediscovering the football that electrified City and Scottish fooball fans - good luck to him!

In just over 2 seasons with Cardiff, he netted 33 goals from 88 appearances, including two goals from three sub appearances so far this season but his second season was nowhere near the standards he showed in his first year.

McCormack's move to Leeds expected to go through today

CARDIFF CITY forward Ross M,cCormack will be meeting Leeds United boss Simon Grayson today with a view to finalising his permanent move to the Elland Road club.

A deal has been agreed between the clubs for an undisclosed fee (believed to be up to £750k) while personal terms are understood to be agreed in principle already too. If it proceeds, McCormack would debut for Leeds at Watford on Saturday.

There is also paper talk that a double deal may take place with Gavin Rae also moving to United.


Meantime, City's latest striker target is understood to be Wolves Andy Keogh who has been on Dave Jones' radar for a while. A cut price transfer is supposed to be close to being confirmed.

Leeds Take Pole Position for McCormack

Leeds United appear to be closing in on out of favour Cardiff City forward Ross McCormack who has found himself further down the pecking order at The Bluebirds with Craig Bellamy’s arrival. Thoughts that City may hold onto the player with news that Michael Chopra could be absent for 6 weeks with an injury in Saturday’s win over Doncaster were removed when It was revealed he should be back within a fortnight.

Roscoe’s agent Willie McKay confirmed, “We have been given permission to speak to Leeds as well as two other clubs about Ross”. Other clubs known to be linked to McCormack include other Championship outfits Ipswich, Hull and Burnley but two are rumoured to have floundered due to Ross’ current wages of £7k+ weekly.

City search for new striker target as Cousin flees

Earlier in the week, stories were strong that Cardiff City and Hull City had agreed a player swap in principle with Ross McCormack heading to the Tigers with City hoping to get French striker Daniel Cousin.

Whilst terms were agreed for McCormack, Cousin was less keen as he earned £18k weekly, Cardiff were offering to pay half of that and Hull were refusing to make up the shortfall. But it's now all change as Cousin has gone to Greece to play for Larissa (I'd never heard of them before either!) leaving any deal for McCormack dead in the water.

However it is now understood that City are looking for a similar swap with Derby County, this time with Rob Hulse coming our way. Cardiff need cover and competion for Jay Bothroyd and Hulse fits the bill perfectly.

Coming and Going Rumours

Rumours started before the weekend but have gathered plenty of pace today that City striker come wideman ROSS McCORMACK is on the verge of a swap deal with Ipswich's Jon Stead plus £500,000 heading to Cardiff City.


McCormack had a superb 1st season at City after a £120,000 move from Motherwell scoring 23 times and forcing his way into the Scottish national side with man of the match and goalscoring starts.

He seemed to go to his head as he wanted out last summer and a move to the Premier League but, despite interest, no bids were made. The player had a well documented drink drive ban last season after crashing his car in the early hours after an away game and there were always rumours aplenty that he was very fond of Cardiff nightlife which appeared to be the the detrmiment of his career.

However that suffered as Chops and Jay Bothroyd became the club's best strikers forcing McCormack onto the bench and having to play wide which again brought rumblings of him wanting away and also not seeing eye to eye with Dave Jones.

Potentially, with the prospect of being a bit part player again this term, the move could do him good. Fans however will have mixed views about Stead who has never quite delivered early promise and failed in his big Premier League move to Spurs.

However he is a 1 in 3 goal man, provides good competition for our strikers and scored a cracker in Ipswich's 3-1 opening day win at Middlesbrough on the weekend.



There are also soundings that Hull City's 6'4" Nigerian central midfielder Seyi Olofinjana has agreed terms to come to the club. He has moved to Wolves, Stoke and Hull for fees totalling nearly £8M in the past 5 years. He signed for Hull for £3M 12 months ago and featured in half their Premier Leage games at The Tigers were relegated. Needing to cut costs, it is believed Hull are happy to release him on loan or for transfer with them plenty a substantial portion of his wages as he is tied to a long-term deal.


Other names are being linked as Dave Jones appears to be going flat out with his aim to bring in 4 players this week ... watch this space!

Championship: CARDIFF CITY 3 Watford 1 match report

As weekends and play-off aspirations go, it could not possibly have been better. Incredibly, every play-off rival from 4th to 11th spot managed a draw other than Cardiff City who ran out 3 - 1 winners over Watford in a Sunday game. Cardiff took an early lead and endured a very uncomfortable hour before gaining control and taking the sting out of the Hornets.

It is a result that took City 5 points clear of the chasing pack with a home game in hand, a far better goal difference and just 9 games to go. How times change at Cardiff City - last home game there was a demo, fears of administration(which still remain) and a feeling we were about to slip away in the play-off race. Now, the club seem relaxed that investment from T.G. is around the corner, the mood is buoyant and a play-off spot looks ever likely. Only at Cardiff!

City went into the encounter with a makeshift defence as Kevin McNaughton and Anthony Gerrard, the midweek centre halves in the win at Coventry, were both absent injured while Adam Matthews was rumoured to be dropped after Dave Jones singled him out as a cause for Coventry's goal - he had almost the entire defence to choose from where I was watching!

However Gabor Gyepes returned from his own injury, Paul Quinn was called up and Darcy Blake was asked to continue as a makeshift centre-back, just as he did at Coventry in the second half. Up front Chops was available again post-suspension but he had to time his time on the bench as Dave Jones continued with McCormack alongside Jay Bothroyd.

CARDIFF CITY: Marshall: Quinn-Blake-Gyepes-Kennedy; Whittingham-Rae-McPhail-Burke; Bothroyd-McCormack. The subs bench contained the only other players Dave Jones had remaining and fit - Enckleman, Capaldi, Taiwo, Matthews, Wildig, Chopra, Feeney.

Watford, like Cardiff, have had their own off the field problems this season and recently avoided administration by a whisker. They turned up in and departed South Wales, just 3 points above the drop zone having now lost 5 out of 7 but they have games in hand and on their showing today, they really should be fine. However they are vulnerable on the road with no away win for 5 months, their home record is comparable to Cardiff's.

They quest to avenge a 0-4 home defeat to City was hampered by injuries to key players as well and pivotal central defender Jay De Merit and exciting Arsenal loaneee midfield prospect Henri Lansbury both missed out leaving them with a slightly makeshift defence.

WATFORD: Loach: Doyley-Taylor-Mariappa-Hodson; Cowie-Jenkins-Cleverly-Eustace; Helguson-Hoskins.

It was a designated Family Fun Day and, for once, Cardiff City pulled out all the stops showing more imagination in one afternoon than they had managed the entire season. Kids for a quid, a fairground in the car park, new Playstation and kids tv areas in the Family Stand, a choir on the pitch pre-game, dancers and football freestyling at half-time and they were blessed with good weather, a gorgeous mild spring day with sunny skies. The crowd was announced as 20,130 but that included about 400 Watford fans and a lot of missing season ticket holders looking around the place.

Cardiff made a bright start to match the conditions and took a thunderous lead on 7 minutes with a pearler. A mini spell of pressure saw City blocked after a terrific move, the second phase saw Chris Burke just about denied at the far post but the resulting corner hit by Whitts went to the far stick where ROSS McCORMACK hit a stunning half-volley first time which drilled low through the crowd and a static, helpless Watford keeper and defence. A terrific piece of skill and the crowd loved it.

Thoughts we were about to see a first class City attacking display soon evaporated however as Watford spent the rest of the half taking the game to us and causing immense problems. Seizing on the lack of height in City's defence - and entire side! - with only Gyepes and Bothroyd being tall players, their tactic was to hit the far post and load up. Their freakish centre half Martin Taylor who looked like he should have been in the middle of a 6 Nations line out caused trouble too and it was uncomfortable viewing as City struggled and rode their luck.

Last ditch tackles, scrambles, Taylor hitting a post, another header coming off the underside of the bar, we could all see what was coming but Cardiff were struggling to prevent it.

City fans and players were also becoming agitated at some perceived inefficient refereeing and decisions. There did appear to be a spell where everything went Watford's way and against Cardiff with City players penalised for tackles and pushes while the visitors got away with identical or worse. By the interval, Jay Bothroyd got his 9th yellow card of the season, very harsh for a nudge, and knows that another before Easter will bring a 2 game suspension. However it was only his 2nd in 15 games, he had 7 in the 15 before that! Mark Kennedy, by comparison, was left flattened by an altogether worse challenge as he was aerial which left him in discomfort and unable to continue after the break, Tony Capaldi taking his place.

Half-time: CARDIFF 1 WATFORD 0

The onslaught continued towards City's goal but had become less intensive and despite our lucky escapes, David Marshall had somehow not been called on to make a single save which, perhaps, was telling.

Cardiff were starting to play and move better with Steve McPhail looking the composed and class act pulling the strings in the centre, Gyepes looking very strong at the back (I thought he was excellent throughout) and Blake coming away with the ball which finally gave a platform to build on.

Capaldi did well too, he was putting variation on his passes instead of the all too predictable Mark Kennedy sand wedge chip and his long throws when City got forward helped relieve pressure and create our own.

Watford made changes using all their subs in the opening 20 minutes of the half but City had doubled their lead by that point and were finally getting on top. The second goal saw a swift move down the right where Chris Burke, after an anonymous first half came to life, and after racing away and checking out, he hit over the perfect cross which PETER WHITTINGHAM headed downwards from close range giving Loach no chance. Yes - seriously, Whitts with a header!! That was his 21st of the season - quite amazing when his enitre career total was 19 before this season.

That came on 63 and lift all the nerves and anxiety both in the crown and the team. While only one Watford goal away from a return of panic, Cardiff were now putting together some great passing and movement and looking the good unit that they are. Chris Burke especially was enjoying himself and creating a buzz.

Jay Bothroyd who had a battle but led the line superbly was so unlucky as he met a Burke cross, looped a perfect header back across goal and was denied by an equally perfect save from Loach at full stretch but that was only temporary respite for Watford as CHRIS BURKE took the ball out of defence with Watford advanced and set off on a mazy 70 yard run on the left with the crowd willing him all the way. He beat two defenders for pace, the ball kindly fell back his way as he tried to shoot and that enabled him to side-foot past Loach. How we loved it.

With the game in the bag, Dave Jones clearly had Wednesday's game against Sheffield United in mind as he took off Bothroyd and replaced him with Feeney ahead of Chopra (was that a message to Chops?) before Chops appeared a few minutes later replacing McCormack. Feeney was Feeney, Chops created some danger and looked lively in his cameo.

David Marshall and his defence craved a clean sheet but Watford got the consolation they, and half their remaining fans, deserved and a fine one it was too with HELGUSSON latching onto a looping header with a fine first time left footed volley as added time started.

The home game on Wednesday is now massive as 6th place City face 7th place Sheffield United who I've felt for some time are the only team who can knock us out of the play-offs if we don't blow up ourselves. Many City fans would be happy to take a draw right now but with The Blades having just 1 draw and 6 defeats in their last 7 aways and looking at the sizeable gap, they will have far more to fear than City. Bring'em on!

Cardiff City star shamed with drink drive ban

Bluebirds Scottish international striker Ross McCormack was today banned from driving for 17 months and fined £2,600 after being convicted of driving at almost double the legal alcohol limit.

The incident occured at almost 4am after City's 4-3 win at Sheffield United last month with McCormack coming off the bench to set up the decisive goal.

Police were called to an incident after a luxury Range Rover crashed into fencing outside the Cardiff Bay Harvester restaurant. McCormack drove to his nearby home but was forced ijnto confession after police discovered that his distinctive personalised number plates came off with the impact of the bump ... doh, doh, doh!

Seriously, I hope Ross has learned his lesson. It could have been much worse.

McCormack critical of City's Oakwell display

When teams lose and play poorly, it's common place for manager and players to close ranks and claim they were unlucky, didn't get the rub of the green or how they win and lose as a team.


Not so Ross McCormack who told Wales Online exactly what he thought about Cardiff City's efforts in a dismal defeat at Barnsley on Saturday -is it a rare spell of refreshing honesty or is McCormack making waves again with the transfer window soon to re-open as some City fans will speculate?


Either way, I was at the game and can't argue with McCormack's thoughts which include;
“I don’t think it was too tough a game to be honest, I just think we made hard work of it, and we got a real sucker punch at the end of it with the goal. It was a bit windy, but that can’t be used as an excuse for not passing the ball. If you play the long ball to two little guys then nothing is going to happen. I was disappointed at the service, disappointed to be taken off, just disappointed all round really."

The weekend proved conclusively that McCormack and Chopra can't play up front together and with Jay Bothroyd likely to return at home to Ipswich on Sunday, McCormack may well be returning to the bench and he's can't be happy about that. Is that what he had in mind when he added, "Personally I’ve had two starts now, but I’m not taking anything for granted. I’ve obviously signed a four-year deal here and like anyone I just want to be playing football".

McCormack said the Bluebirds need to bounce back against Ipswich on Sunday.

And he insisted after a summer in which he was linked with a move away from the club he was now looking to fight for his place in the Cardiff side.

“Two games now and two defeats, so the Ipswich game of course becomes important to us now,” added McCormack.

“We’ve just got to try and put this defeat behind us and move on to the next one.

“Jay had a slight tear to his hamstring, but he should be back for the Ipswich game.

“Personally I’ve had two starts now, but I’m not taking anything for granted.

“I’ve obviously signed a four-year deal here and like anyone I just want to be playing football.”

McCormack drink/drive hearing adjourned

CARDIFF CITY striker had his drink drive case adjourned until later this month at Cardiff Crown Court today.

McCormack crashed his Range Rover into fencing outside the Cardiff Bay Harvester restaurant at 4am following Cardiff City’s 4-3 win at Sheffield United a fortnight ago. Fortunately no other vehicles or people were involved.

The player didn’t enter a plea but speaking to Sunday newspapers, he seems resigned to a ban saying that he has learned a lesson but must move on.

He immediately joined up with the Scotland squad ahead of facing Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium this Saturday.

McCormack warms up for Jackland

CARDIFF CITY held a 'closed doors' friendly against Exeter City at the new stadium today and emerged 2-0 winners.

It was essentially a run out for the sub's bench but key interest was in Ross McCormack who is certain to replace the suspended Michael Chopra at Swansea this weekend and he stood out scoring the opener with a stunner free-kick. Tony Capaldi doubled City's lead before the interval and a goalless second half saw McCormack withdrawn on the hour. The encounter also saw Kevin McNaughton get a more than useful run out as he bids to get into first team contention having missed the entire season to date.

Talking to CardiffCityFC.co.uk, McCormack said, "I was always going to play some part today, I would have been happy to go on for 90 minutes, but the decision was made to take me off, and I was happy to go along with it. I'll train Thursday and Friday to make sure I'm ready for Swansea".

City's side: Enckelman; Quinn-Morris-Gyepes-McNaughton, Comminges-Taiwo-Scimeca- Capaldi; McCormack-Feeney.

Rumours were doing the rounds on Sunday but today came confirmation that CARDIFF CITY striker Ross McCormack was arrested and subsequently charged with drink-driving and will appear in Cardiff Magistrates Court on November 9 charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

This followed an accident in which, thankfully, nobody else was involved at almost 4am last Sunday. Ross is believed to have crased into roadside fencing outside the Cardiff Bay Harvester restaurant whilst heading home, he is understood to live near-by. There are rumours that his distinctive top of the range Range Rover with personalised plates was also written off in the collision.

The incident came hours after McCormack, as a late sub, started the move for Cardiff's stunning and decisive goal in the 4-3 win at Sheffield. He returned to South Wales with the squad after that match but went his own way.

Cardiff City wished to distance themselves at present, especially as a court case is yet to be heard, saying that they were aware of the incident but would not be commenting because it was a personal matter.

McCormack has had an unhappy start to the season after publicly courting a transfer to "Premiership" Hull City, injuring himself at Blackpool in August missing City and Scotland World Cup games over the past 2 months and finding his return to the side blocked by the current outstanding form and results of the side. I will await outcome of the trial before making any judgement.

Reserve Friendly: Bristol Rovers 1 Cardiff City 1

Miguel Comminges - City scorer today

Despite dominating from beginning to end, Cardiff City had to accept honours even if a friendly against Bristol Rovers at their Memorial Ground this afternoon after conceding an 89th minute penalty.

Cardiff took a mix of Academy kids and pros in the shape of Enckleman, Capaldi, Taiwo, Scimeca and the returning Celtic duo of McNaughton and McCormack.

City opened their scoring in the 21st minute via a Miguel Comminges drive and should have got more but have to reflect on a series of superb saves, near and bad misses as well as hitting the woodwork.

Enckleman was a virtual spectator but was left to pick the ball out of his net as Duffy fired that late penalty past him.

The best news is that all players came through unscathed and surely McNaughton and McCormack will be in the squad for the weekend home game against Crystal Palace.

McCormack back in the next week?

While down about the loss of Kelvin Etuhu for up to 2 months, it's not all bad news at Cardiff City as SUPER ROSS McCORMACK has announced his imminent return.


McCormack had a hamstring tear at Blackpool in the second match of the season over a month ago but had worked tirelessly in physio to get fit fast.

Talking to the South Wales Echo, Ross of Scotland announced that he would travel with the team to watch tomorrow's game at Reading and is then hoping to be involved in Staurday's jhome clash with QPR. If not, he expects to play against Aston Villa in Carling Cup action next midweek.

Welcome Back Ross!

Cardiff City injuries - bad luck, coincidence or a sign?

Somehow I don't think it's my perception over reality but Cardiff City players do seem to suffer more injuries than the average club, especially injuries where players just pull up.

Yesterday at Blackpool saw Ross McCormack stretchered off after he heard his hamstring "ping" while Paul Quinn also pulled up with a leg strain. Steve McPhail completed a hat-trick of Bluebirds who went off injured.



Add to that Mark Kennedy being absent after after a hamstring strain in the Scunthorpe match last week and recall how Bothroyd, McCormack, Ledley, Kennedy and Chopra were all absent at the tail end of last season with hamstring pulls and you do wonder what is going on.

One of City's problems is its small squad which forces players to play while not 100% fit, the Blackpool game saw Joe Ledley and Chris Burke have to perform after being unwell all week.

However it doesn't explain why so many Cardiff men suffer with hamstring trouble.

McCormack could join Kevin McNaughton spending several weeks out of action, there is no news on Quinn but he may be absent as well leaving City's resources vastly depleted heading to Plymouth on Tuesday night.

McCormack's dream of Premiership football will surely now go on ice as well as Hull have ended their interest while other clubs would surely not take a player who will be injured for some time and that creates another problem.

Cardiff clearly need 4 new faces but it's well known they need to move players out and had been hoping to sell McCormack or Ledley before the transfer window closes in a fortnight - their departure is looking very remote at present.

Shocking - Cardiff City players and management go on the razzle in Blackpool

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Ledley to consider new deal when DJ tells Hull to put up or shut up

With no Premiership club making a move yet, could it be that Joe Ledley will sign a new contract to improve his wages until he gets his chance? Joe and his agent have been adamant that would not happen but Dave Jones in yesterday's press conference said the sands are shifting.

“Our chairman had a discussion with Joe’s agent the other day. They put something to him. they will discuss it and see if it’s right.” said DJ.





However the club are playing hard ball with Hull City over Ross McCormack clearly angered by the conduct of Ross and his agent but also Hull City and their manager Phil Brown who has been telling the press that City's asking price is too high while causing unrest with the player.

Jones was forthright, "There are ways of going about business and I think it being plastered all over the papers is not the right way ... We turned the bid down from Hull because it wasn’t acceptable. Phil is coming out saying we spent £100,000 on a player and then a year later he thinks it unfair that we are asking for that. That is our valuation. He is our leading goal-scorer, he got 23 goals last season and he’s an international player too"

And he added, "Phil has to realise if I went for one of his players, he would have a price and no matter how much I harped on about it he would not budge on the price ... just as we are not going to budge on ours."

After stating that he could not replace Ross with the same calibre of player as Hull's bid, Jones had the parting shot, "If you want him, that’s the going rate and if you don’t want to pay it then go somewhere else.”

McCormack bid turned down ... but deal still expected

McCormack tries to strangkle Chops!

Sources in North Yorkshire today confirmed that Hull City's initial bid for unsettled Cardiff City striker Ross McCormack was turned down by Peter Ridsdale. Their bid was believed to be worth £3M.

However Cardiff City have lost patience with McCormack and his agent for their poor behaviour and it is believed they will accept a cut price deal enabling them to bring in 3 or 4 new faces quickly.

Hull share their optimism and believe a deal will be struck after the weekend with the clubs understood to be close to 'splitting the difference' between Hull's initial offer and Cardiff's demand for £5M.

Is McCormack's nose growing or are his pants on fire?

"Oh shit, I've been sussed"

If he wasn't a City player whose behaviour and respect for the club and fans weren't completely beyond the pale, you'd have to laugh at how two faced and ridiculous Ross McCormack has shown himself to be.

When he accepted a 4 year deal doubling his pay to £12,000 weekly at the club last month, McCormack went out of his way to telephone Chairman Peter Ridsdale and thank him for doing the deal. He went on record saying how, "“I want the opportunity to go that step farther than we did last season, along with all the lads, I’m really pleased to have sorted things out.” and bragged about how his commitment was underlined by signing a deal with no release clauses.

Before the ink ran dry, Ross then phoned Peter Ridsdale to inform him that he wanted to talk to any Premiership club if an approach was made but while he denied leaking a story about a tranfer request to Sky Sports, or askign for transfer, his agent remained mysteriously quiet.

As Portsmouth and Hull showed interest, Ross openly stated he would be happy to talk with either but his antics had now undone all the good work and respect earned with City fans and he was roundly booed and abused in a friendly at Swindon Town.

The player did appear to get his head down as no deal emerged and received a warm ovation in the Sevilla friendly last week but he was taking a rest before Round 2 showing his true colours this week.

On Tuesday, Hull Daily Mail carried an exclusive interview with McCormack in which he again confirmed he would like to link with them but that Cardiff were pricing him out of a move.

Under more flack, he took the unusual step of issuing a comprehensive denial and pledge on the official Cardiff City website "I'm happy here and I want to stay. I don't know where those quotes have been dug up from. Everyone seems to think that I don't care about Cardiff and I want to leave, but that's not the case. I'm happy here, so is my fiancée, and we're looking for a new house. I'm upset at these reports. I'm happy and not planning to go anywhere."

He did, though, add a caveat that, "Everyone knows the situation. I had a conversation with the chairman and said that if a Premier League club came in for me, I'd like the chance to speak to them."

Ross however has reached the stage where the more his opens his mouth, the more he embarrasses himself. Hull Dail Mail found themselves gobsmacked by his claims and today responded to his denial in emphatic fashion.



Reporter Jon Mattos felt compelled to set the record straight and leave nobody under any illusions about his source for the story.

The interview was conducted by sports reporter Jon Mattos, who said at no time was any of the conversation explicitly termed off the record. "This was an open conversation and Ross co-operated entirely. We chatted for about 20 minutes, he was very pleasant and we even talked about his friendship with Darryl Duffy and the new stadium at Cardiff. At the end of the interview we wished each other well and at no time did I attempt to manoeuvre Ross into saying something he didn't want to say."

I wouldsay this was probably the final straw but that's likely to be this weekend when McCormack will be involved in the Cardiff City vs Scunthorpe Championship opener where sections of the support will surely let him know their feelings about the way he has conducted himself.

After that, all signs are McCormack will leave the club early next week for Hull City for a £3.5-£4M fee. Whether it's a dream to join a club who already look doomed to relegation in 9 months remains to be seen.

Four days to go and still we don't know how Cardiff City will shape up

Whatever Dave Jones and Cardiff City planned for this summer, you can bet they never counted of having the immediate future of their two biggest value players unknown and be at least 3 or 4 men short of their ideal squad with no new face in midfield at all ... but such is life with The Bluebirds.


The one certainty is that PAUL PARRY has left the club officially signing for Championship rivals Preston North End for £300,000 on Monday afternoon. Dave Jones hinted an immediate replacement would join the club but the wait continues for that.

Parry shared his thoughts with BBC Radio Lancashire after completing the deal and you can listen to the interview at this link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/8183875.stm

However the biggest talking point of the past 48 hours was another chapter in the Ross McCormack soap opera. In the space of 1 month, Ross signed a new deal, bragged of his commitment to Cardiff until 2013, rang Peter Ridsdale for a casual chat to find out where he was playing, asked to leave for a Premiership club, denied asking for a transfer, lost penalty taking duties after his third successive miss and now after being quoted in the Hull Daily Mail that Cardiff were over-pricing him to prevent him going, he's denied ever saying that too.

Clearly Cardiff need to shift Ross fast or get the player to get his head down and work. The situation is unhealthy and undermining preparations for the big kick off.

This isn't dead by a long way as rumours today are very strong that a transfer to Hull will be completed by next Monday for upto £4M and that Cardiff will be bringing in 4 new players.


More details and information to follow but this is a quick catch up as I've been away since Sunday.

Pompey No Go for Ross

After rising speculation following Portsmouth feeling encouraged after an initial Ross McCormack yesterday, it appears to be over after new Pompey boss Paul Hart decided against making any move.

News has emerged that Ross was a third or fourth choice for the club and they are close to succeeding in their other choices - an Egyptian Premiership player and Croatian forward Nikola Kalinic - so their interest in McCormack has subsided no sooner than it arose.