Cautious welcome from Ridsdale

Jan 9 2008 by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

CARDIFF CITY chief Peter Ridsdale gave a cautious welcome to the FAW’s new master plan but warned there were major hurdles to overcome.

Ridsdale (above) emphasised his No 1 priority was to ensure the Bluebirds’ Football League status would not be affected by also playing a team in the Welsh Premiership.

He also highlighted what he saw as perhaps the biggest stumbling block.

UEFA according to Ridsdale, are not keen on players being registered to play in two different leagues.

Cardiff would have to be given the go-ahead, he pointed out, to use their entire first-team squad in the Coca Cola Championship as well as the Welsh Premier.

In that way, the Bluebirds would be able to field their strongest side in the UEFA Champions League, should they win the Welsh Premier.

“I’m not against this idea, although I must emphasise it has come as something of a shock because no-one has spoken to me about it yet,” said Ridsdale.

“What I will say is that clearly there would have to be a lot of talking, and a number of obstacles that need to be overcome, before we could agree to such a plan.

“I can’t give a completely considered view of it because I haven’t been told by anyone at the FAW about the detail.

“Clearly, though, because of the politics involved, it is something that needs an awful lot of debate. I’m more than happy to enter those discussions.

“We would need assurances from the authorities that our Football League status would not be affected in any way whatsoever.

“It’s very well people in Wales saying it won’t be, but what’s to stop someone in the English set-up saying a few years down the line that we play in the Welsh Premier League, so they don’t want us any more.

“We need a cast-iron guarantee that our place in the English League will remain okay, but this will form part of the discussions we are more than happy to participate in.”