Cardiff City FC

• Nickname:
• Founded:1899
• Manager:Dave Jones

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City to break bank for Ledley

08 Sep 2009 - 16:20:21

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Cardiff City are ready to double star midfielder Joe Ledley's salary as they try to persuade him to stay in the Championship.

The 22-year-old was denied a move away from the Welsh capital in the summer as he sought Premier League football and was stripped of the club captaincy.

But Ledley remains part of manager Dave Jones' plans and has been offered a bumper four-year deal to stay at the Cardiff City Stadium.

"Joe is mixed in his emotions," chairman Peter Ridsdale told a fans' forum.

"He wants to play in the Premier League and I don't blame him for that. It's the only place to be and I'm desperate to get Cardiff City there.

"I've put a four-year contract to Joe Ledley which probably, as near as damn it, doubles his wages and does have an escape clause if a Premier League club comes in with the right offer.

"If Cardiff City are in the Premier League that clause would be null and void. If we weren't in the Premier League that clause would stand.

"We haven't had a response from Joe or his advisors yet but I'm told he's happy to talk."