Gilo: Time to get rid of Robbie

Jan 18 2008 South Wales Echo

CARDIFF City must cut their losses on Robbie Fowler, offload him, and bring in a striker who can fire them towards the play-offs.

That’s the message today from Echo columnist David Giles following the news that Fowler will miss the rest of the season with a hip injury.

Giles says the Bluebirds hierarchy must seek an agreement with the former Liverpool striker that will get him off the Ninian Park payroll – and then plough the money into buying someone else.

“Sadly Robbie has never really looked 100 per cent fit since he left Liverpool for the first time,” said Giles.

“I just hope Cardiff can come to some sort of agreement with him that will see him leave. There’s certainly no point waiting for Robbie, by next season he will be a year older and once again trying to come back from a long lay-off.

“It would be better for City to save the money on his wages and get someone in who can be effective on half the salary – and they need to move quickly. In fact they could probably even get two players for the price of one.

“I don’t want to sound uncaring, but football is business at the end of the day. There’s no place for sentiment.”

And Giles believes Fowler may well be best advised to hang his boots up altogether, adding: “Who knows, it may be a blessing if he reached the decision to call it a day,” added Giles

“He is certainly not the Robbie Fowler we all know anymore.”

But City manager, Dave Jones insists he has no regrets about signing Fowler and hinted the striker could still play next season.

“I have no regrets about signing him.

“It is unfortunate Robbie has picked up a new injury but there is nothing that can be done about it.

“And I still think he has another season left in him.”