City phone red hot in search for loan striker

Mar 22 2008 Terry Phillips

CARDIFF City have rung every Premier League club asking about possible loan signings.

Now they are going through the list again following the successful conclusion to their High Court hearing with Langston.

The Bluebirds could now pay a loan fee if it was required – and clubs often ask half a million pounds to clinch a loan.

“I am confident we have the financial means to bring in a striker before the deadline on Thursday,” said chairman Peter Ridsdale. What I am less confident in is whether it can be done.

“The sort of players we would want to add to our squad are the sort of players other teams do not want to let go. But with the court hearing behind us we can now focus on finding the right players over the next week – and we will not stop until the deadline.”

Bluebirds manager Dave Jones sees a striker as priority, while he would also like a defender to cover the full-back positions.

City have asked about Robert Earnhsaw four times and will probably ask again, while Michael Chopra looks keen to spend the rest of the season with Cardiff.

Certainly, Cardiff have asked Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn and manager Roy Keane about Chopra, who is eligible to play in the FA Cup.

But they are not keen to let any player out while they battle for Premier League safety.

City to be record breakers

CARDIFF City could set a record next week.

The record number of Ambassador season ticket holders is 10,000 and there are more than 8,000 this season.

The current number who have renewed for next season is more than 6,000 – well over 500 season tickets were sold yesterday.

The deadline to buy cut-price Ambassador tickets has been extended until next Friday and that means fans can combine that with buying FA Cup semi-final tickets for Wembley.

Everybody who buys a Cardiff City season ticket before next Thursday, which is the final date to be an Ambassador, will be guaranteed at least one ticket for the match against Barnsley.

Semi-final tickets are available from tomorrow at Ninian Park. The first five days are for Ambassadors and season ticket holders only, but the football club are keen to stress: “Don’t all turn up tomorrow – we are open all week and there are plenty of tickets for Ambassadors.”

Jimmy defends his first position

JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink started his playing career as a right-winger.

“That’s where I played as a youngster,” said Hasselbaink. “But I liked scoring goals so much I ended up as a striker and I have never played anywhere else since.”

Hasselbaink has moved to South Wales and lives with his partner and their daughter, Miah, who is one years old.

He has another daughter, Ghislaine, who is 11-years-old and lives in Holland.

Handy Andy is on FA Cup trail

CHERTSEY Town fan Andy Ollerenshaw is following Cardiff City to Wembley.

He is writing an online diary of his own road to Wembley, which started at his local club, Chertsey Town, last August.

“I followed Chertsey until they were knocked out, then followed the team that beat them and so on,” said Ollerenshaw.

“I had no control over where I would go. Now it’s Cardiff City, which started when they defeated Wolves at home.

“So far I’ve done 14 matches.”