Ridsdale Blast For Cardiff City Hero Ledley

Cardiff City Chairman last night blasted homegrown hero Joe Ledley for his recent form during a meeting with Bluebirds supporters. The attack was unexpected, especially given the usual tendencies of our management team to defend under-performing players in the past.

However, Ledley was especially poor on Sunday, the most disappointing I`ve ever seen him play and it`s certain that Ridsdale knows far more about inside dealings regarding Ledley`s contract negotiations and state of mind. The new contract has been rumbling on forever now, and the official club line had always been ‘we can`t afford to let him run his contract down`. Unfortunately, that situation becomes very real in January when Ledley is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club of his choosing, we will be entitled to compensation but it will come nowhere near the £6m offered for Ledley by Stoke City prior to last season.

Ridsdale told the crowd:

“We can`t seem to score goals without McPhail in the side, and Joe Ledley is playing like he`s somewhere else. I`m not going to put up with performances like that.”

The contract dealings have clearly affected Ledley`s head this season, and his performances suffered. It`s in his interest to play well, even if he`s set on a move but on current form it won`t be the likes of Arsenal, Everton, Fulham who have previously shown interest. Current form is not befitting a Championship performer and the fans, Chairman and presumably the manager have recognised that. Instead of being the local hero, Ledley is fast becoming a major disappointment.