Keogh is a Bluebird

Last night's speculation turned to today's confirmation as Cardiff City announced this evening that Wolves' Eire striker ANDY KEOGH has signed for the club. However it is a season long loan rathert than a permanent purchase making Keogh the 8th signing of 5th loan signing of this season.

Still 24, Keogh was signed by Wolves from Scunthorpe in 2007 and had 79 starts plus 37 sub outings in the league with the Molineux club, netting 24 times. He played a half in Wolves opening Premier League win over Stoke 12 days ago.

There is speculation over where he could play and how he will fit into this City side which is packed with attacking talent ... and speculation over whether his arrival may mean the departure of a name player but we'll soon know I guess.

Mixed Good Friday Play-Off Results for City

Although their destiny is entirely in their hands, Cardiff City fans (and manager and players if they're honest) will take an interest in other results.

Two Championship games were played today with contrasting fortunes from a Bluebirds perspective.

In a lunchtime game, Blackpool scored 3 late goals to win 4-2 at Scunthorpe and continue their recent impressive run as that was their third successive win. By way of total contrast, Leicester City suffered their fourth successive defeat to go from play-off certainties to the most vulnerable Top 6 side. Those results leave The Foxes just 1 point ahead of Blackpool with 5 games each to go.

Cardiff's lead over Blackpool has reverted to 5 points as their depleted side go into a massive Easter programme at home to 5th placed Swansea and away to 3rd place Nottingham Forest tomorrow evening and Monday evening with both games live on tv (Sky and BBC respectively).

C'Mon City!

	Team	P	GD	PTS
1	Newcastle	39	46	83
2	West Brom	41	38	82
3	Nottm Forest	40	21	70
4	Cardiff	40	18	65
5	Swansea	40	2	62
6	Leicester	41	5	61
7	Blackpool	41	14	60
8	Doncaster	40	4	55
9	Middlesbrough	40	9	54
10	Sheff Utd	40	2	54
11	Reading	38	-2	52

Another great result for Cardiff as Sheff United lose at home

Without playing, Cardiff City had another play-off boost as Sheffield United lost at home to lowly Scunthorpe United in a Sunday game. A result that leaves the Yorkshiremen 8 points behind Cardiff when they have just 6 games to go. Lovely!!

The latest Championship table:

Posn	Club	P	GD	PTS
1	Newcastle	38	44	80
2	West Brom	40	35	79
3	Nottm Forest	39	23	70
4	Cardiff	39	17	62
5	Swansea	40	2	62
6	Leicester	39	9	61
7	Blackpool	40	12	57
8	Doncaster	40	4	55
9	Middlesbrough	40	9	54
10	Sheff Utd	39	3	54
11	Reading	38	-2	52
12	Coventry	40	-8	52
13	Bristol City	40	-9	52
14	Preston	40	-10	49
15	Barnsley	39	-13	49
16	Ipswich	40	-8	48
17	Derby	40	-10	48
18	QPR	39	-5	47
19	Sheff Wed	40	-17	44
20	Scunthorpe	38	-19	44
21	Watford	38	-9	43
22	Crystal Palace	39	-5	39
23	Plymouth	39	-17	37
24	Peterborough	40	-26	30

Tonight's Cardiff City Phone-In

Reviews the weekend draw at Scunthorpe, previews tomorrow's F.A. Cup replay against Bristol City but, most of all, remains very worried about what is happening at the club and with increasing discontent towards Peter Ridsdale.

Listen or Download via this link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?jmintyqtb3j

Video Highlights - Scunthorpe 1 Cardiff City 1

** Scunthorpe 1-1 Cardiff **

A deflected Peter Whittingham strike denies Scunthorpe all three
points in an entertaining tussle at Glanford Park (UK only).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8464601.stm

Jones proud of City fightback at Scunnie

** Jones proud of battling Cardiff **

Manager Dave Jones was proud of his

 Cardiff City players 

after they fought back to draw 1-1 at struggling Scunthorpe.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8463896.stm

Championship: Scunthorpe United 1 CARDIFF CITY 1 match report

CARDIFF CITY produced a mirror image of recvent displays at Scunthorpe but got the same result. This time, they were poor and behind first half but the better side after the break and, for once, scored a late goal instead of conceding one to draw 1-1, City's 4th successive draw.

This was a return of the opening day fixture in which Cardiff City had their first competitive game at the new stadium and trounced Scunnie 4-0. The fixture had a few 4's about it as City were 4th whilst Scunthorpe pasted Derby 4-1 at the Baseball Ground last weekend.

The usual strong contingent of vocal Blubirds support made the 500 mile round trip to be met by a grey and chilly. I wasn't there, I'm saving it for the Newcastle weekender. Scunnie's Glanford Park - scene of City memorably winning the Third Division Championship at the start of the 90's with 6.000 fans filling most to the ground - is tight, compact and doesn't really suit this level which underlines what a great job the Iron have done to reach this level.

No players sold and thanks to the transfer embargo that the club don't want to confirm, no arrivals either could have seen a very weakened side. As it was, Chris Burke and Jay Bothroyd were over injury and illness respectively while Aaron Wildig got his first Championship start replacing the hamstrung Gavin Rae.

CARDIFF CITY: Marshall; Matthews-Hudson-Gerrard-McNaughton; Whittingham-Wildig-Ledley-Burke; Bothroyd-Chopra. Subs: Enckleman-Capaldi-Gyepes-McCormack-Taiwo-Feeney-Quinn.

Scunnie has yo-yo'd between League One and the Championship but look safe this time even though they started the day 3 places and 5 points above the drop zone. Look many at this level, they have good and bad results in equal measures, their home record in unspectacular which must have given Cardiff hope. However the fact they survive and compete well at this level while Cardiff are in financial chaos - and things may yet get worse - should embarrass Peter Ridsdale. There's a lesson to be learned but it may be too late.

SCUNTHORPE: Lillis: Williams-Byrne-Mirfin-Wright; Togwell-Thompson-Woolford-O'Connor; Hayes-Hooper.

The crowd of just 5,032 including over 500 from Cardiff saw a bland first half but the home fans would have been happiest as their side held an interval lead as Cardiff, surprise surprise, made a slow start. Under the cosh, they fell behind to another silly goal, this time inside 10 minutes. A dubious handball gave an edge of area set piece. O'CONNOR put the ball over the wall and his effort flew in but it wasn't in any corner or unstoppable, City keeper David Marshall was just completely caught out.

Cardiff just didn't work as hard as the home side and half the time were off the boil but when they put it together, they looked dangerous. Bothroyd, Chops and Burke all had efforts. However City had a handful of close shaves so were grateful just to be in the game.

Half-time: Scunnie 1 City 0

The 2nd half started exactly as the 1st half was, the quality and pressure continuing to come from Scunnie. Five minutes after the restart, Cardiff still hadn't got out of their half, three headed clearences and a Marshall save were needed.

Thankfully, City finally woke up, stepped it up a gear and started to pressure and worry the home side but, of concern, it wasn't resulting in efforts on goal.

Whitts = to City's rescue

For the final half hour, Cardiff laid siege to Scunthorpe's goal with Ross McCormack thrown into the fray but it never looked like happeneing with Bothroyd, Chopra and Whittingham all going close and the home goal surviving several goalmouth scrambles. City, and their fans, must have felt resigned to defeat when Anthony Gerrard put a free header over the bar from a free-kick from 3 yards out.

However after surviving a let off with Mark Hudson just flicking the ball off the line when O'Connor shot past Marshall, City had a huge but deserved stroke of fortune as WHITTINGHAM's low edge of area shot took an outrageous looping deflection of Mirfin and left keepr Lillis helpless. Amaizngly, that was his 16th goal of the campaign.

City searched for a late winner and you felt their pressure might pay off but it wasn't to be. Instead, they survived an added time penalty appeal when Marshall appeared to catch a home stri striker trying to go past him.

39 points off 25 games doesn't seem too fantastic but it still has City ion 5th spot. Play-offs look the most relaitic option as the automatic places are now 10 points away. In the respect, they appear to be 1 of 8 clubs going for 4 places. If the club can somehow stabilise, it could yet be a nail biter.

Taiwo U-Turn, he's staying

After revealing last night that Solomon Taiwo was heading to Colchester United on loan, Cardiff City manager Dave Jones changed his mind this morning and put the move on hold.



Taiwo, having failed and been an outcast all season long since moving from Dagenham for £200,000 in August, grabbed a chance and impressed in a 60 minute display against Bristol City last night that had fans singing his praises.

His chance came after Gavin Rae came off injured. It has since transpired he pulled a hamstring and with City having a limited midfield with McPhail recovering from cancer and Scimeca injured, Taiwo is needed for now and may well get more chances.

He will now stay with the first team squad for this weekend's visit to Scunthorpe.

Latest Championship Table

Two games last night saw Newcastle held at home by the live contenders that are QPR whilst Nottingham Forest celebrated their second successive win beating Scunthorpe 1-0.


The midweek programme saw Cardiff City jump from 9th to 5th but they are one of several clubs on 16 points but thewir goaql difference has them leading the pile.

	Team	P	GD	PTS
1	Newcastle	10	13	23
2	West Brom	10	10	20
3	Preston	10	6	18
4	Middlesbrough	10	4	17
5	Cardiff	10	8	16
6	Sheff Utd	10	4	16
7	Blackpool	10	4	16
8	Leicester	10	2	16
9	Bristol City	10	1	16
10	Coventry	10	0	15
11	QPR	9	5	14
12	Watford	10	1	14
13	Sheff Wed	10	4	13
14	Nottm Forest	10	0	13
15	Crystal Palace	9	-3	12
16	Swansea	10	-4	11
17	Scunthorpe	10	-6	11
18	Doncaster	10	-2	10
19	Reading	10	-4	10
20	Derby	10	-7	10
21	Barnsley	10	-9	8
22	Peterborough	10	-6	7
23	Plymouth	10	-10	5
24	Ipswich	10	-11	5

Video Highlights - Cardiff City 4 Scunthorpe 0

BBC online now offer video highlights of every Championship game so here's City's weekend demolition of Scunnie.

Click Link to view (can only be seen in UK)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8192305.stm

Chuffed Chopra on his opening day goals and City win

You can listen to Chopra interview at this link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8191889.stm

Championship Game 1 - CARDIFF CITY 4 Scunthorpe United 0 (match report)

WE ARE TOP

OF THE LEAGUE,

SAID WE ARE TOP

OF THE LEAGUE!

Cardiff City demolished Scunthorpe 4-0 (and it could have been more) to open Championship football at the new stadium in emphatic style. Michael Chopra scored twice and was denied a hat-trick only by bad luck and a goalpost, Jay Bothroyd targeted to help make it 3-0 and game over by the interval while Peter Whittingham rounded off the afternoon with a late penalty.

Got to be honest, I wasn’t sure I was ready for a new season waking Saturday morning. Still haven’t got over City’s crushing capitulation – and tossing it all away – at the end of last season while decent summer weather in early August felt like I should be doing something else instead of football. Still, the chance to wear shorts and flip flops down the City was not to be missed.

But here we go again - a new Championship season which, on paper anyway, appears to be as wide open as Jordan’s legs. No clear favourites, no certainties to go down, anyone can beat anyone and Cardiff City appear to be as capable of being stranded below halfway as they are of being in the play-offs.

Today took us nowhere nearer knowing where our destiny lies, it was just a hugely enjoyable occasion, because if City could have hand-picked opponents to help get a flying start to the 2009/10 campaign, it’s a fair bet Scunthorpe at home would have headed the list. You can, though, only beat what’s in front of you and City did it in style reminding us all just how good a side they are and can be.

The beauty of a new stadium only across the road to Ninian Park is that we can still head to the same watering holes and Canton was doing a roaring trade both in the pubs and with those who bought tinnies in Tesco and hit the streets. Still can’t get used to those plastic glasses they now serve us which makes town more appealing for a pre-match bevy anyway.

It did feel surreal walking under the railway bridges and past Ninian Park to go to the new ground. It is just me surprised they still haven’t taken down the fences and taken away the portkabins creating the eyesore on Leckwith Road?

Bearing in mind the prices of food and drink in the ground, it was funny to see many keep on walking to Asda, Greggs, Subway and even Costco in the retail park. But is it a surprise when a hotdog and drink in the stadium cost £7 but the same in Costco with unlimited refills costs £1.47?

However even the most hard-bitten Ninian Park-ite, whilst bemoaning the lack of a clock/time display, looking at a “big” screen that’s too small and doesn’t show any replays and counting the embarrassing sight of meagre few prawn sandwich brigaders in the Premier Club, had to admit with the new ground being light years ahead … a bit like moving from grabbing grans in the Wynford Hotel to suddenly getting into the VIP of a superclub.

Big areas under the stand to meet/chat, better seats, better views, enormous toilets and, most importantly of all, the atmosphere/buzz as the afternoon developed was more than a match for the old place.

++++++TEAMS++++++

CARDIFF CITY were missing Kevin McNaughton but were otherwise at full strength with Ledley and Bothroyd recovered from last week’s knocks … providing your definition of full strength are 2 players who want away and a squad light by at least 2 midfielders and a striker. Mark Hudson was named Captain with Ledley’s future still uncertain but the biggest talking point was not who put the **** in Scunthorpe but who put the t**t into Ross McCormack? His prima donna antics had him destined for the bench but illness to Chris Burke saw him get a surprise start that had audible boos when announced but Ross spent the afternoon showing his talents and skills, talking with his feet, and had the faithful chanting his name long before the end.

From this season, 7 substitutes can now be named so City lined up with: Marshall, Quinn-Hudson-Gerrard-Kennedy, McCormack-Ledley-McPhail-Whittingham, Chopra-Bothroyd. Subs: Enckelman, Burke, Capaldi, Comminges, Gyepes, Magennis, Rae.

SCUNTHORPE are currently yo-yoing between the Championship and League One in the same way as West Brom do between the Prem and this level. That they do it at all with crowds rarely above 6,000 and often much lower is testimony to a well run club and the organised, entertaining football by manager Nigel Adkins.

Returning to this level after a dramatic 3-2 Wembley play-off win over Millwall, they talk openly of the “C” word, consolidation, being their aim for the season as it’s not quite acceptable to admit the real aim is an “S” word, survival. They have no star names but their strikers Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper shared 43 goals last league season so needed attention.

Their side were Murphy, Morris, Jones, Mirfin, Byrne, Sparrow, McCann, Togwell, Woolford, Hayes, Hooper.

++++++MATCH++++++

Despite Scunnie bringing the average Big Brother 2009 tv audience with them – about 250! – they were in good voice and so were City. The afternoon commenced with a minute’s applause for legendary manager Bobby Robson and it was heartening to hear City fans chanting, “There’s only one Bobby Robson” for a former England boss but that’s the respect he’s earned.

City kicked-off and Jay Bothroyd took all of three seconds to end up on the floor for the first time but the resulting sweep upfield by Scunthorpe’s Jones caught City square and Hooper was one on one against Marshall but the keeper saved his effort to prevent City going behind with 10 seconds.

Cardiff were playing the sharper football with quick feet, passing and movement but it wasn’t producing chances while the visitors tested Marshall a couple more times in the opening section of the game.

Nerves settled on 21 minutes as the crowd of 22,273 – City’s biggest home gate for over 30 years – as Cardiff forged ahead with a freak goal but from a classy move. On the wing, Ross McCormack showed all his class to turn and get away from Scunnie markers in the tightest position on the touchline from halfway, then swept forward and sent a diagonal ball across the edge of the area which Whittingham shot first time but his effort clipped CHOPRA on the back of his heel, looped in the air, over helpless keeper Murphy and in you go, you beauty.

A couple of minutes later, Chopra was so unlucky not to have doubled his and City’s tally as he cleverly turned a defender with a dropping ball 30 yards out, advanced and shot wide of Murphy seemed perfectly placed but hit the inside of his post and was clearly after rolling across goal.

City were in the groove now and while Scunthorpe looked useful getting forward, the evidence was compelling that their defence were unable to compete against the dazzling one touch football and general play of Chops, Jay, Joe Ledley, Whitts and Ross while Steve McPhail was also loving it out there and putting on some showboat pieces too.

Just after the half-hour, it was 2-0 as another smart move forward saw Ledley’s shot across goal touched by Murphy but there was JAY BOTHROYD to scramble it home at the far post and celebrate like he had scored a 30 yard blinder.

Scunthorpe were made to realise that there is more chance of England salvaging a result from the Ashes 4^th Test as them leaving South Wales with anything as CHOPRA blasted home in the final moments of first half added time and a terrific goal it was. Some blinding one touch passes and flicks carved up the visitors defence like a Christmas Day turkey and made them realise they were on for a stuffing. The moved completed with Bothroyd’s backheel past a weary defender, Chops shimmying past another and rifling his effort into the roof of the Family Stand net.

Half-time: CITY 3 SCUNTHORPE 0

A presentation group came out half-time just as the sprinklers popped up and gave them a drenching, the same thing happened before the start too. That’s entertainment.

The second half was always going to be a less intense affair but with strong sun and high heat, the players certainly put in a shift. Joe Ledley went off feeling a knock and he was also unwell so Rae had a half.

Scunthorpe returned with an expected response but even though Mark Hudson made some Spencer Prior/Darren Purse-esque gaffes, they never fully tested “Dai” Marshall.

Instead, all the quality and chances came from City. Best showboating moment was the rejuvenated McPhail’s back-heel flick beating a closing down forward on the edge of his box although McCormack’s majestic flicks and turns were akin to a Spanish matador as he teased players and beat them time and again.

Only a couple of big saves, blocked shots, goalmouth scrambles and more saved Scunthorpe falling to a heavier defeat. Their defence looks set for a torrid season on this evidence but City’s attacking play was a joy to watch and packed with invention and quality.

More subs followed with Chops and Jay withdrawn, Magennis getting a league debut and Chris Burke providing late torment to the visitors. Indeed, it was one 90^th minute run that saw Burke ghost past his marker yet again and dragged back into the box for a penalty.

Some wondered if Ross would get it given a result beyond doubt and Chops off but up stepped PETER WHITTINGHAM to take it like it was a practise kick rolling it one way and sending the keeper the other. Out walked the Scunnie boys … with 20,000 waving them on their way.

Superb afternoon, brilliant entertainment and what a start to the season. WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE chanted the crowd and indeed we are, with Swansea in 23^rd as well making it more enjoyable.

(Sidenote – Do we really have to persist in anti-Swansea chants that have creeped in over the last year or two? I can’t stand them. The most nauseous being the Stand Up if You Hate Swansea one. Why? I can’t even be bothered about them! It’s so small minded and we’re better than that, leave that stuff to the Jacks)

That table made fantastic reading with 8 of the opening 11 Championship fixtures ending in draws, City have already opened up a 2 point gap over 4^th … only 83 more points needed for promotion and surely City won’t blow the play-off places this time either!

A great start in which every man played very well although Whittingham wasn’t that influential, Hudson could be a concern against better attacking sides. On the plus side, Quinn had an excellent match but the plaudits today should go to our attacking talent who put Scunnie to the sword.

Photos can be seen at

http://nigelblues.blogspot.com/2009/08/cardiff-city-4-scunthorpe-united-0-in.html

Dave Jones video reaction to Cardiff City 4 Scunthorpe United 0

WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8191825.stm

Cardiff City 4 Scunthorpe United 0 - in pictures

Hudson makes his Mark as new Captain

Centre-half Mark Hudson was today announced as the Cardiff City skipper for the forthcoming season. Dave Jones broke the news top him today and he will get the honour of leading out the Bluebirds as City kick-off the Championship campaign with their first competitive fixture in the new srtadium against visitors Scunthorpe United.

Hudson as Captain for Charlton last season
ironically next to Roger Johsnon, the player he replaced at City

"This is a fantastic honour for a new boy like me to be made skipper" said the 27 year old signed last month for a reported £1.075M.

Joe Ledley was skipper at the end of last season and had the armband in last weekend's final dress rehearsal against Sevilla but with his future at the club remaining very uncertain, Hudson got the nod.

Hudson was Captain at Charlton Athletic last season. They got relegated. GULP!

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.

Captain Ledley set to be Ordinary Joe and Hudson makes his Mark

"I'm in charge" (well, maybe not anymore!)

The club have given the strongest hint possible that Joe Ledley with his future still undecided and in the balance will lose the Captaincy of the club with new signing Mark Hudson set to be handed the armband.

Ledley, although not the greatest communicator, led by example last season and had a successful time as skipper. As well as leading the club in the second half of last season, Joe also Captained Wales in summer friendlies and World Cup qualifiers underling his influence and stature.

However as he has not signed a new contract and is therefore certain to leave either in the August or January transfer windows, Dave Jones can hardly entrust him to contine leading the side.

This weekend's friendly vs Valencia of Spain is expected to be a final dress rehearsal before the Championship start against Scunthorpe next week and Hudson, skipper for Charlton last term and at Crystal Palace before that, is widely tipped to assume duties.

The Cardiff City Week - McCormack asks to go, Parry set to go, McNaughton crocked and 2 x 0-0's

Hello Everyone

I've been away in Turkey for a week so it's catch up time and, as usual, 1 week with Cardiff City had its usual shares of mayhem and shocks. Life is never dull with the Bluebirds.

ROSS McCORMACK ASKS TO LEAVEHands Up if you want out

The major talking point and disappointment of the last week was forward star ROSS McCORMACK asking to leave the club. This only 2 weeks after signing a "double your money" new 4 year deal with the club, agreeing to no trigger clauses which could self-prompt an early release and excitely announcing on his Facebook page that he "Is Staying AT Cardiff City FC Till At Least 2013!!!". Ross likes exclamation marks in all his posts(!!!). In fact, his Facebook page still currently says that.

However last Thursday night - 24 hours after Cardiff fought a goalless draw with Celtic officially opening the new stadium watched by Hull City boss and McCormack admirer - Sky Sports announced that the diminuitive, tricky Scotsman had submitted a transfer request.

Clubs officials were bemused and spoke out against it while a section of supporters vocally turned on their hero in a goalless draw at Swindon last weekend, many labelling him greedy, many more thinking he may have been tapped up. This from a player loved by the fans after his first season with season scoring 23 times also starring and scoring World Cup winners for Scotland - a sensational return for £120,000.

Today, McCormack broke his silence denying that he has requested a transfer and upset that 'someone' (his agent? at the club??) leaked his intentions to Sky Sports.

He told press that he was unhappy playing second fiddle to Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra although he got on fine with those players and being made to play wide to get games. He was also concerned that in a World Cup season and his country in a good position, this may affect his selection with the national side.

Those points are understandable, many City fans agree Ross is being wasted playing wide and City do not like as balanced as Dave Jones uncomfortably tries to fit the three strikers into a system. However Ross knew this last season, he knew it all summer, he knew it when hi8s contract was penned and he had all the time in the world to ask questions and sort his position. To question the club 2 weeks before the new season kick off and disrupt pre-season is poor form.

Cardiff have stressed Ross is contracted to the club and they will be not sell cheap sending out a clear message to any club thinking there is an opprtunity to sign him for a lesser fee. It is believed that figure is circa £5M.

PAUL PARRY PREPARES FOR PRESTONPaul Parry is currently in Lancashire discussing a possible move to Preston North End after Cardiff City agreed a sale worth upto £300,000 last Friday.

It's a sad state of affairs when many Cardiff City fans will say "amen to that" to a player who has been a star for 3 years but who, last season, was poor (and that's being kind). Disinterested with Wales and reiting from international football, Parry often looked disinterested at Cardiff City as well last term and a shaow of the player he can be. He appeared to have added a couple of punds to his frame - although supremely lean by the standards of the average fan! - and lost that ability to get past players. Fans only saw fleeting glimpses of the talent that we know he has and he had become a whipping boy for Cardiff City's failures at the end of the season.

In fairness, Parry himself recognises he had a bad time and has recently spoken of his determination to see out the final year of his contract making up for it with Cardiff City. However it has equally become clear that he is one of a number of men that boss Dave Jones would like to move on if he can and the figure quoted is certainly good business. DJ has declared that he already has a replacement lined up if he leaves.

However that all depends on Parry agreeing to the deal and he appears reluctant with young fmaily and friends in the area and always having lived in the Cardiff to Hereford region. He is due to start a second day of talks with Preston boss Alan Irvine tomorrow.

TWO GOALLESS DRAWS

While I was away, Cardiff took their unbeaten pre-season record to 6 games and still hadn't conceded a goal but they have stopped scoring as well as they played out 0-0 draws with the first team at home to Celtic and with the rest of the squad at Swindon. The blog will update match reports to those games.

SUPERKEV OUT FOR 6 WEEKS

A year has 4 seasons and a season normally has 4 Kevin McNaughton injuries. The fans favourite, a 110%er and Mr Totally Committed "Naughts" sadly crocked himself in the pre-season friendly with Celtic and is set to miss 6 weeks with ankle ligament damage.

That is a blow as Kev was reverting to left back this season but Cardiff have Mark Kennedy and Tony Capaldi ready, willing and able in the wings. Kennedy looks set to satrt the season against Scunthorpe next weekend.