Cardiff City ‘Trying’ For Four New Signings

Cardiff City manager Dave Jones maintains he is actively searching the barren transfer market, despite the lack of Championship activity and the frustrating transfer embargo imposed on the Bluebirds over unpaid debts.

The embargo will remain in place until the HMRC withdrawn their petition due to go before the courts in just over a week. It is understood the club have been in regular contact with HMRC and are negotiating a payment plan in order to get the tax and PAYE contributions up to date. The court case is no trifling matter and with our poor history with HMRC, they are rightly taking a hard line.

In addition to the HMRC debt, there are outstanding payments to rival clubs over unpaid transfer fees. Motherwell (Paul Quinn), Sunderland (Michael Chopra) and Charlton Athletic (Mark Hudson) are all expecting money and the lack of season ticket monies has hit the club hard. A chunk of TV cash is expected, but part of this money has already been borrowed against and we remain is serious difficulties.

Jones told the SW Echo:

“I have loads of signings in mind,” We are trying to get loan signings in, but clubs won`t let players out until they try to sell them first. That`s the problem.”

“Now we have to find two players at least, maybe even four.”


It seems likely that clubs are waiting on finances, prior to a mad rush just before the transfer window shuts. As ever, Premiership clubs hold all the cards and until the decide on the future/availability of their players, everyone else must wait. Ther will then be the expected merry-go-round of transfer dealings as clubs look to firm up their squad lists.

It is crucial that Cardiff City are not left out of that melee. We have a hugely talented starting XI, with strong back-up in terms of McCormack, and some decent alternatives in the likes of Quinn, Darcy Blake and Gabor Gyepes. However, the squad depth is pitifully thin and we desperately need a striker, full-back and midfielder in to bolster the squad and provide quality cover for the inevitable injuries and suspensions.

Given our financial circumstances, it seems likely we will be looking for free transfer and loan deals. Hopefully, these will be in the mould of Gary O’Neil or Koumas type loans rather than Etuhu or Ndumbu-Nsungu…