Cole reveals Bluebirds regret

Coles was targeted by former Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence in 2003, who tabled a £600,000 bid for the then Bristol City player. However, the bid was rejected by the Robins. Now Coles, 27, concedes he "should have been more insistent on the transfer happening". Coles, who faces Cardiff in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, told the South Wales Echo: "I knew of Cardiff's interest in me but the Bristol City directors didn't fancy the prospect of me joining one of their biggest and most local rivals. "The move never really got as far as it might have. Maybe I should have been more insistent on the thing happening - I could have pushed my case much harder than I did." Meanwhile, former Arsenal and Crystal Palace winger Julian Gray is on trial with Cardiff. The 29-year-old spent nine matches on loan with the Bluebirds during 2003.