Embargo over (for now), new players registered, more to come - let the season begin!

After a summer of bad news and the club in the doldrums, while then problems remain, the club have finally managed to release some shackles in the nick of time.


Having resolved some of its immediate financial debts (to the tax man, former players and transxfer fees to other clubs), the Football League lifted the club's transfer and player registration embargo on Friday afternoon.

This enabled the registration of goalkeeper Tom Heaton and on loan midfielders Danny Drinkwater (from Manchester United) and Jason Koumas (from Wigan). It also enables the club to try and arrange new contracts for existing personnel, defender Kevin McNaughton being one who agreed a new deal but it could not be registered under embargo.

However it may well be a temporary reprieve as Cardiff's problems are significant and may well take a long time to overcome. It is believed the club face major financial demands in September- after the transfer window closes - which may see the embargo return.

Relieved manager Dave Jones said, "It’s a good thing for the club the embargo’s off. We just have to move now as quick as we can to bring the players in we’ve been chasing. Everything seems to be sorted, but we could be hit again over the tax issue. We can’t rule us being hit again with an embargo. If I can four new faces before the transfer window closes, and keep the ones I have, then we will be in good shape.”

Various names have been banded about with some said to be training with the club already but nothing has materialised so far.

Meantime the N-Power Championship season opened last night with promoted Norwich being surprisingly outplayed and beaten at home (2-3) by relegation-fancied Watford. 10 more games are being played today before Cardiff open their season in front of Sky tv cameras at home to Sheffield United tomorrow lunchtime.

It's a Major Kou at City

Would you believe it? After weeks of doom, gloom, misery and bad news, Cardiff City are starting to redeem themselves just as the season is to kick-off with tonbight's announcement that JASON KOUMAS has signed a 1 year loan deal and can play once the embargo restrictions are lifted.

Koumas earned legend status in a 1 year 2005/06 loan spell with City scoring some stupendous goals and putting on some of the best performances I have ever seen from anyone in a City shirt.


In his last spell at City, Koumas played 42 league matches and scored 12 - all of them stunners! He created many more.

At Wigan since 2007 after they paid £5.3M for his services, he played 75 Premier League matches but fell out of favour with boss (and ex-Swansea manager Roberto Martinez) so did not play any league match in 2010.

Now, still 30 years of aghe, Koumas is back to hopefully do it all over again. Is it a mistake to return to a place of former glory. We'll soon find out but it has ignited City fans - this was the fillip they needed.

The last time Koumas was seen in a City shirt, what great memories

Cardiff City - Fit for a King?

“I will have something finalised for Marlon in the next seven days,” the player’s agent Tony Finnigan says about stories that Marlon King will join a Championship club but not until after the weekend. The question is will it be Cardiff, Coventry or QPR who are all rumoured to be closing in on him.

King has just been released from jail after the married father sexually abused and assaulted a woman in 2008, that wasn't his first time in trouble or jail. It did, though, see his contract cancelled by Premier League Wigan - who signed him for £5,000,000 - leaving him to a make a new start after his release over the summer.

It's no secret Dave Jones and Cardiff City need a striker as they rely too heavily on Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd without sufficient back-up so he would fit ther bill ... bing a free transfer signing!

While he doesn't seem to be a nice guy, he is a successful footballer and should be someone with a point to prove. He has 108 goals to his name and I'm sure the 30 year old will add a few more with whoever he joins.

Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Coventry-QPR-and-Cardiff-chase-ex-jailbird-Marlon-King-article544291.html#ixzz0vaQtQWsP

Premiership midfielders linked to Cardiff

Cardiff City are being strongly linked with loan moves for Stephen Reid of Blackburn Rovers and/or Ben Watson of Wigan, ironically players who have had less than successful loan spells recently with fellow Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

Reid, a 28 year old Eire international with 22 caps, was signed by Blackburn from Millwall for £2.5M in 2003 and has started 90 Premiership games scoring 6 goals, he is noted for powerful shooting. However ihe has not played in the Premiership since Sept'2008 and had only 3 Carling Cup appearences for the Ewood Park club this term and injuries have seen him drop down the pecking order. At QPR, Reid started once and was used a sub once in late November.

Ben Watson, dubbed the Beckham of Peckham for his set piece flair, is seen as surplus by Roberto Martinez at Wigan after arriving there last January from Crystal Palace for £2M. He joined QPR, ahead of Cardiff, and has started 16 Championship games scoring twice, his tally would have been greater hadhe not earned 2 successive red cards. His loan spell has just ended with mixed reviews and it is believed Dave Jones has made enquiries already.

What's On? Could it be Watson?

A couple of sources have today linked Cardiff City with a season long loan move for Wigan midfielder Ben Watson with a view to a permanent deal. One national daily claims on its website that the deal is 'on the verge' of being completed.


Watson, still only 23, would be an excellent addition to City's squad as he's an energetic box to box goalscoring and contributing midfielder. Riased through the youth system at Cystal Palace, he was dubbed the "Peckham Beckham" with his set pieces and general play.

18 goals in 145 league starts bring plenty of admiriers and he joined Premiership Wigan Athletic for a cool £2M in January making an instant impact crowned by winners against Sunderland and Hull.

However the arrival of ex-Swansea boss Roberto Martinez and his influx of mainly foreign players has seen him pushed out of facour so club and player are looking for a move.

However I wouldn't get excited or hold your breath - rumour has it that Premiership Portsmouth and fellow Championship side Ipswich are both monitoring developments and favurong paying to buy the player now for a £1.5M deal.

Porter joins Derby, City have alternatives lined up but late Ledley interest?

It appears that Chris Porter has opted to join Derby County over Cardiff City and completed a move to the middling Championship club yesterday.

Got to admit not knowing anything about the player so while I don't think he's made the best decision, it's hardly a loss if Cardiff didn't get him.

Meanwhile, Cardiff are believed to be close to bringing in two other strikers instead, possibly via the loan market and one touted as being from overseas - let's hope they're not bringing back Iwan Redan or Luigi Glombardi then!!!

One other story to watch - Newcastle United are rumoured to be making late enquiries for Joe Ledley. They have lost bad boy Joey Barton for the season to injury while N'Zogbia has vowed never to play for them again to force a move out of the club creating a crisis but they have responded by signing Kevin Nolan from Bolton for £4.2M and are getting Scott Taylor form Wigan so hopefully they have covered their bases.

City are at home later to Nottingham Forest.


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Have City Lost A Porter?

BBC and Motherwell reported this morning that they Cardiff City are raiding them for players again. After the fantastic capture of Ross McCormack last summer, The Bluebirds are said to be returning for striker Chris Porter but by the end of tonight, there is still no word from Cardiff City or any source that any deal has been concluded while some rumours persist another club, possibly Derby County, may hijack the deal while while Norwich, Ipswich, Plymouth, Sheffield United and Wigan are all reported to be chasing him too.

Cardiff City need another 2 strikers ideally and Porter would fit the bill as a back up option. 24, out of contract this summer and with 9 goals in the SPL including 5 in his last 5 games, the striker found his way North after 50 league goals in 100 starts plus sub outings for Bury and Oldham.

It is hard to believe that the fee will be £400,000 and it is more likely to be a nominal amount but will it go ahead? We'll see.


BBC REPORT > Well accept Cardiff Porter offer

Ledley, Kopumas, Striker, Defenders - latest Cardiff City transfer talk

Peter Ridsdale and Wigan sources have jointly confirmed in the South Wales Echo that The Latics bid to take Joe Ledley to the Lancashire club has been turned down by Cardiff City.

Wigan's bid appears to have been £4M for Joe plus Jason Koumas who they valued at £2M but Peter Ridsdale reiterated his desire to back Dave Jones' play-off/promotion quest, keep existing personnel at the club and try and add a new face or two instead.

Player swap deals are rare and never seem workable. Not least, I'm sure Cardiff City or any other club could get Jason Koumas for much less than £2M if they wished while Wigan's self valuation of Joe at £6M is a fair way below the price at which City would feel compelled to do business. Dave Jones and Cardiff City fans all admire Jason Koumas but his wages in excess of £20k weekly would prove problematical too.

In other news, The Echo confirmed that the club are in talks with a defender as a potential replacement for Darren Purse should he leave while they are continuing in their search for an extra striker as Eddie Johnson and Paul Parry are the only viable alternatives at present behind McCormack and Bothroyd which is far from ideal.

Echo Story

Cardiff City turn down Koumas swap with Ledley

Wigan paper links to Joe intensify but only if it's cash

According to a report in this morning's Daily Mail, there has been contact between Cardiff City and Wigan over Joe Ledley.

However while Cardiff reportedly told West Ham to find £8M last week, Wigan have been told to find £6M if this report is to be believed. It doesn't add up to me.

The report also adds that Wigan were looking to include Jason Koumas and Henri Kamara in a cash plus swap deal. City fans would love Koumas to return while Kamara has been a past target but City want cash only and, apparently, neither player was keen on being involved in such a deal.

Hold your breath time then, here we go again! The transfer window closes next Monday.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1128583/Cardiff-tell-Wigan-6m-Ledley-signing.html?ITO=1490

Now it's Wigan cash + Koumas for Ledley

The Daily Mirror reports that Wigan Athletic are the latest club to be ready to make an offer for Joe Ledley with a £6M package deal, £4M cash plus Jason Koumas. The Latics needs players and have funds available having just sold Palacios and Heskey for £17.5M but whether that offer will be made and, more to the point, whether it meets City's valuation is a different matter. The Bluebirds have made it clear that they are fighting to keep Joe at the club and put a £8M asking price on his head but Wigan are stated to be interested after previous target, Reading's Steven Hunt, is believed to be have turned down the club.

Monday's South Wales Echo also stated that Peter Ridsdale turned down a weekend bid from the player with hints that it may have been Fulham who need to replace sold star Jimmy Bullard, who joined Hull City, and require a replacement for him.

As for Joe himself, his only words are he hopes to play in the F.A. Cup replay at Arsenal - that game coming the day after the transfer window closes - and that he's happy to stay unless City accept an offer for him to consider.

The line of suitors for Joe is getting bigger if you believe the press. By my reckoning, it's Spurs, Everton, West Ham, Fulham, Aston Villa, Wigan, Stoke, Portsmouth and Newcastle. No interest yet from Accrington Stanley however.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/01/26/wigan-to-offer-jason-koumas-to-land-cardiff-star-joe-ledley-115875-21071947/



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Bent signing for Cardiff City

CARDIFF CITY have announced the signing, subject to Monday medical, of Marcus Bent from Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee.

City were declined with a £1M bid for the player, apparently with £500k paid up front, last week so whether they have offered a higher price or more money in advance is a matter for speculation.

Marcus Bent and Gemma Atkinson

sunning themselves at Barry Island as the new Gavin and Stacey

(*ok, it's not Barry Island really)

It will be Bent's 11th club and the fee means the 30 yr old strong 6 foot striker will have been sold for a value of over £10M during his career. He is set to sign a 3 yr deal with City.

Most opinions are favourable as he is a strong hold up the ball player that City need as a pivotal point of attacks but chief grumble is that his goalscoring record, especially in recent years, is nothing to get excited about.

On loan at Premiership Wigan last season - a deal agreed after Charlton dropped out of that division - he notched 7 goals in 25 games plus 6 sub outings but that included a hat-trick and he has failed to score since last November - a run of 18 games. Prior to that, he scored just 4 times in 46 games for Charlton in the Prem and 7 in 38 (+ 17) sub outings with Everton.

However his record is much better than 1 in 3 at all previous clubs played for at this level including Ipswich, Sheffield United and Dave Jones will be hoping that's how it works with City.

Cardiff fans are also delighted as Bent is a favourite of the WAGS and is currently dating Gemma Atkinson. Doubt we'll see her eating a Clarks Pie on the Grange End but you never know!