MONTHLY NEWSFILE
July 1999

Due to the size of the newsfiles
recently I have decided to document
each article as a seperate page.

Click on the headline for the full story.

Matt Brazier looks like missing the final tour match in Scotland after suffering a thigh strain. City will probably not risk him but will aim to ensure his fitness for August 7th. The same goes for Kevin Nugent who has an ankle injury.

Winston Faerber is still the most likely man to be the next signing. Winston played against Clyde last night and that was his third game played out of the 5 pre season matches so far.

Kevin Nugent has injured his ankle. SuperKev was crocked in the game at Clyde last night. Earlier in the match he scored City's second goal. Kevin will be out for at least a few days possibly a week or so. Fingers crossed he will be fit and raring to go on August 7th.

The full team was:- Kelly (Hallworth), Faerber, Young (Eckhardt), Middleton, Perrett, Legg, Boland (Hill), Bonner (Carpenter), Fowler, Bowen, Nugent (Earnshaw). Sub not used. Lee Phillips.

Frank Burrows will start to mould his squad into the most likely players to be on show against Millwall in 18 days time. Its thought that a full strength looking team will emerge over tonights match and Saturday's clash with Falkirk. Not expected to take part will be youngsters Rob Earnshaw, Lee Phillips, Jamie Hughes and Chris Roberts. Seamus Kelly has not played on tour yet so he may well take part tonight but I think we can take it that Hallworth will be no.1 keeper with Kelly taking up one of 5 places on the bench in the new season. Frank will tonight choose from the following players:- Middleton, Faerber, Legg Brazier, Perrett, Young, Jarman, Eckhardt, Boland, Bonner, Bowen, Nugent, Fowler, Hill, Carpenter, Williams and Thomas. It would seem then that Frank strategy for next season will be keep the younger players out on the fringes.

As we stand now I would think a team prediction for the Millwall game would look something like:-
Hallworth, Faerber, Young, Perrett, Ford, Brazier, Boland, Fowler, Legg, Nugent, Bowen. (5-3-2 with Faerber and Brazier the wing backs). The bench would in my opinion be Kelly, Eckhardt, Middleton, Bonner, Williams.
Thus leaving Cadette, Carpenter, Jarman, Thomas, Hill, Hughes, Earnshaw, Phillips and Roberts fighting to get into the team. City have 3rd choice keeper Ian Loveless and rookie Phil Owen available as well.

My prediction is of course speculation. Winston Faerber has yet to sign and it will change if more players arrive or leave and at the end of the day what do I know but it's something to think about.

Steve Borley has issued the following statement.

MESSAGE TO SUPPORTERS

Following Fridays Press Release in respect of the share issue, a report in
Saturdays Western Mail contained several quotes from Samesh Kumar which I feel require a response.

1) Samesh Kumar has blocked the share issue by refusing to sign the
necessary articles to enable the issue to proceed. He made demands on the company which were unacceptable to the board.

2) Reference to "wanting it done in a professional manner" is of course very important. To this end the Board whilst he was Chairman, appointed the following professional team to undertake the offer:-

a) Deloitte & Touche:- they are widely acknowledged as being the leading
authority on football finance. They have a specialist division who have
received commissions from the Premier League and Football League to produce reports on the future of football and football finances and produce yearly reports and recommendations. They have also been involved in every major football club flotation.

b)Morgan Cole:- they are one of the country's top 6 law firms and have
experience in three sporting club flotation's in South Wales alone.

c)Brewin Dolphin:- another leading specialist stockbroker with particular
knowledge of the football share market.

To suggest that we have not taken proper advice is ludicrous. These
professionals would not risk their reputation or professional indemnity and
are strictly governed by the P.O.S. regulations of the Financial Services
Act.

3) We have been accused of being an impetuous and inexperienced Board. We make no excuses for wanting success for this Club and it is the feeling
within the Board that we have learned a great deal in the last two years on
how not to run a football club. Our "inexperience" has led us to the
following conclusions that are important for the future well being of the
Club.

a) The football club needs a long term plan with sustained investment.

b) Not to fudge issues but to make brave and logical decisions.

c) Employ the right staff to deliver the long term plan, both on and off the
field.

d) Adopt a more professional approach with the sponsors and deliver value for money packages and form long term partnerships.

e) Listen to the supporters and include them in the planning process.

The Board is made up of experienced and successful business men or
professionals backed by impressive c.v.'s. A trip to Companies House will,
on the other hand, enlighten the public on the Kumar's business track
record.

4. Samesh Kumar had made reference to an imbalance on the Board and we would agree with that comment. There are Directors on the Board who have invested hard cash in to the football club whilst Samesh Kumar has taken a salary and not met one cash call. He is still trying to claim a percentage of the fees from the Haworth, Partridge and Delaney sales at the same time as making statements that he has always acted in the best interests of the club.

You can judge for yourselves on this issue.

He is trying to regain control of the Board, that is the reason for wanting
Directors appointed and a Director to leave so that he can deliver the Club
to the highest bidder in an effort to sell his shares. We have suffered
this scenario time and time again and I will not let him succeed in the
quest.

5) We have an open door policy towards investment and even David Sullivan can invest in the Club up to a holding of 10% without contravening league rules. He has chosen not to and we respect his position. Samesh Kumar has touted his shares everywhere and despite his statement his only interest is that of his own. we will continue to strengthen this club and will strive to bring in the level of investment to give us a chance. We have never suggested to him that people were falling over themselves to invest in the club if he resigned but since his resignation significant improvements in the level of commercial activity is there to be seen and the Club is viewed in a completely different light.

I thank you for your support and together we can take this Club back to its
previous standing.

Frank Busuttil has also left the Club. He played in the defeat at Raith last night but has now returned to France.

Frank Burrows has hinted that he will start to compile his first choice XI in the remaining two matches in Scotland. City play Clyde F.C. tomorrow with the only certainty in the team to be Seamus Kelly in goal. Kelly has not yet featured on the tour. Burrows, while happy with the fitness and committment of his players in the first two matches was not happy with the crossing and finishing. He will be expecting better in the forthcoming games.

City team tonight. Hallworth, Faerber, Legg, Young, Phillips, Jarman, Busuttil, Carpenter, Hill, Thomas, Williams. Subs were Eckhardt, Middleton, Hughes and Earnshaw.

Earlier preview
More action tonight as City aim to bounce back from the defeat by Dunfermline last Saturday. We can expect a totally different side as Frank Burrows will want to see all his players in action at some time during the tour. Frank Busuttil is expected to play but Russell Perrett is still waiting paperwork clearance from Portsmouth before he is eligable. Jon Hallworth is expected to be between the sticks.

Scores, scorers etc to follow this evening.

Frank Burrows will choose a completely different team to play Raith tomorrow, this is so he can see all of his squad in action while on tour.

DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC 6 CARDIFF CITY 1

Before anyone gets too excited about this scoreline against an English
Division Two side consider that Dunfermline after two warm up games in the
North of Scotland put out what was their virtually a first choice team;
Cardiff City put out half a first team as they came north for their warm up.
Cardiff played on trial, 26 capped Slovenian goalkeeper, Boscovic in goal
but he had no answer to the Pars goal machine.

A grey July Saturday was brightened with 5 or 6 Welsh Dragon/Cardiff City
flags as Dunfermline started playing towards the empty East Stand. Cardiff
had the better of the early chances with Craig Middleton's 8th minute cross
being fired over the crossbar by Matt Brazier. Eddie May had a shot wide
before in the 13th minute Reid was forced to block a Middleton effort.

But then a rare sight - just what Dunfermline fans were hoping for - the
return to goal scoring form of Andy SMITH. Fowler stopped a through ball
into the Cardiff penalty box, Stewart Petrie picked up the rebound and
crossed for Smithy. The big striker in characteristic style let the ball
run passed him before blasting it right footed passed the helpless keeper.
Six minutes later the Slovenian made a complete mess of collecting a loose
ball and alllowed Owen COYLE to make it two.

Cardiff broke to the other end and a Bowen cross was blasted high over the
crossbar by Brazier yet again. Boscovic was good enough for a 26th minute
Eddie May shot on target. Chris McGroarty did really well to beat off three
players as he battled down the left to cross for Smith but again the keeper
saved. The visitors placed a 35th minute free kick straight at Ian
Westwater and two minutes later Nugent had a shot deflected for a corner.

Owen Coyle brought another save out of Boscovic before four minutes from the
interval Stewart PETRIE scored a great goal from 25 yards high into the top
right of the Cardiff net.

The second half started with the Welsh showing their battling spirit.
Brazier shot wide, Nugent missed when he should have scored, Westie blocked
a Bowen effort and Boland had a drive that might have done better.

Eighteen minutes into the second half Owen Coyle latched on to a good
through ball up the Cardiff right. The, yet to be favoured, former Well man
teed up Petrie whose cross was destined for Andy Smith at the far post until
Scott THOMSON raced in to head in number 4. Andy Smith turned and shot a
minute later but the keeper saved easily.

With 71 minutes on the clock Nugent was given space and time to place the
ball at BRAZIER's feet to drive home a goal for the visitors. One minute
later Brian REID was left unattended at the edge of the penalty box and he
drilled a low shot into the bottom left of Boscovic's goal.

A spate of substitutions followed and in the last minute David Graham broke
well to get in a shot that was needing a touch to deflect it into the net
but Graham MITCHELL was the unlucky Cardiff defender to give the Pars their
sixth goal of the afternoon.

Score looks like Dunfermline are justifiably favourites to win the First
Division but really there was not a lot different from last season. Room
for improvement and maybe room for a more youthful look to the team.

DUNFERMLINE: Westwater; Shields, Tod, Reid (Squires 86), McGroarty (Ireland 74); Thomson, Dolan, May (Templeman 78), Petrie; Smith (Graham 73), Coyle (Nish 74).
CARDIFF CITY: Boscovic; Middleton, Mitchell, Young, Eckhardt, Brazier;
Boland, Bonner, Fowler; Bowen (Roberts 74), Nugent

Scorers: Smith (18), Coyle (24), Petrie (41), Thomson (63), Reid (72),
Mitchell og (90)
Cardiff scorer: Brazier (71)
Attendance 2000
Referee John Rowbottom (Kirkcaldy).

SAMESH KUMAR last night denied he had blocked moves for a £1m Cardiff City
share issue. And although he has resigned as chairman, Kumar stressed that he was still a member of the board and the club’s major shareholder.

Steve Borley, City’s acting chairman, claimed that Kumar effectively
prevented the share issue by making “unacceptable demands” in return for
backing the scheme.
But Kumar said, “I want to make it perfectly clear that there is no way I
am blocking the share offer.
“But I want it done in a professional manner, cautiously, not by an
impetuous, inexperienced board.
“I would feel no concern if we were doing the share issue to private
investors as originally intended.
“But I feel the board has been inappropriately informed, or perhaps not
even advised at all, that a public offer is a totally different ball game.
“There is a great deal more at stake for the directors personally. Full
disclosures need to be given in the prospectus document. Everything has to
be whiter than white when you ask for public money.
“If a public share issue doesn’t take place, the major loser is me as the
major shareholder.
“But it has to be done with the public’s interest at heart, not just for
what the directors want. I don’t want it to be a failure or an
embarrassment to the club and the supporters.”
Borley claimed Kumar had not acted in City’s best interests by refusing to
sign the share issue document unless three demands were accepted:
• The appointment of three directors chosen by himself.
• The resignation of one of the existing board members.
• The replacement of the professional adviser involved with the share issue
scheme.
“Having to scrap the share issue is a blow to the club, but we have a Plan
B and a Plan C,” said Borley.
“It was an important part of our strategy, but I still believe we can raise
£1m.
“There are a number of people interested in investing in the club and the
present directors are ready to inject more of their own money if necessary.
The biggest disappointment is that fans have been prevented from owning
part of the club.
“I can think of no logical reason why Samesh Kumar has taken such action.
None of his demands make sense.”
Kumar replied, “At this moment in time it would appear there is an
imbalance of directors, contrary to the agreement made when Celtic Leisure
members joined it. All I have ever done is act in the best interests of
Cardiff City.
“It was intimated to me that there were people falling over themselves to
invest in the club if I resigned as chairman, which I did.
“I decided to put my own shares up for sale in the hope of attracting a
major investor like David Sullivan. That would have given far greater
impetus to a public share offer.”

Boland, Bonner, Boskovic, Bowen, Busuttil, Carpenter, Earnshaw, Eckhardt, Faerber, Fowler, Hallworth, Hill, Hughes, Jarman, Kelly, Legg, Middleton, Mitchell, Nugent, Perrett, Phillips, Roberts, Thomas, Williams and Young.

Those not going are Nathan Cadette, Ian Loveless, Phil Owen and Mike Ford. Brazier is a mystery at the moment.

The game v Millwall on August 7th has been made all ticket. Tickets are now on sale and a sell out is expected. No tickets will be on sale or can be collected on the day of the match.

"The Directors are very disappointed to announce that the public share offer scheduled for the 19th July 1999 has had to be cancelled due to unacceptable demands placed on the Club/Company by the ex Chairman, Mr S Kumar.

The Directors have reluctantly taken this course of action after Mr Kumar placed personal conditions in return for him signing the necessary resolutions to enable the public share offer to proceed.

His demands were:-

1.The appointment of three new Directors chosen by Mr Kumar.

2.The removal of one existing Director.

3.A professional advisor of the Club ceasing to act on any other matter.

The Board believe that these demands are totally unjustified and that the share issue to raise up to one million of new share capital for the Football Club is, undoubtedly, in the best interests of the Company. The money would be used for:-

Strengthening the playing squad

Various ground improvements

Youth Development

In order to try and make the share offer as successful as possible the Board decided on 28 April 1999 to take steps to convert the proposed share issue into a public offer, including the creation of a new holding company through which to make the offer. This decision followed advice from the Club’s professional advisors.

The stance is an about turn by Mr Kumar who chaired the Board Meeting on the 28th April 1999 when the decision was taken to make shares available to the public. Having raised no points of concern at the time the company moved on and set the share issue time table involved.

Mr Kumars current demands now mean that the proposed share issue to the public will have to be cancelled. This will also result in the Club incurring substantial abortive professional costs.

The Directors wish to emphasise to all supporters that Mr Kumar’s actions will in no way frustrate their current plans to continue to strengthen the team. They will personally invest more money into the Company as a temporary measure and are currently looking at a number of options.

The Chairman is hopeful that supporters will now rally behind the Directors in taking the Club forward and not allow Mr Kumar’s actions to divert the Club from its ambitious programmes."

City will play Shamrock Rovers on July 31st, kick off 3pm. This match will replace the Centenary Tournament. Wimbledon have declined an offer to come to Cardiff on the same weekend. This will be City's only home pre season game.

Tickets for the away trip to Oxford on August 14th go on sale at the ticket office tomorrow. City have been given 2,100 tickets. 1800 are for the terrace and are priced at £12 / £7. 300 tickets for the stand are priced at £15 / £10.

City team...
Hallworth, Cadette, Middleton, Eckhardt, Jarman, Phillips, Fowler, Carpenter, Hill, Williams and Thomas. The subs are Ian Loveless, Phil Owen, Jamie Hughes, Rob Earnshaw and Chris Roberts.

Frank Busuttil did not get clearance from France to play. He will travel to Scotland though and play on tour.

Hallworth, Busuttil, Jarman, Phillips, Eckhardt, Fowler, Carpenter, Hill, Thomas, Earnshaw, Owen, Cadette, Hughes, Roberts, Middleton and Loveless.

Result and scorers to follow.

RUSSELL PERRETT will be given the chance to ressurect his career by joining Cardiff today, after being released by manager Alan Ball.

The 26-year-old has battled with injury over the past two season's, and has been told by Ball that he cannot guarantee him first team football next season with the arrival of Adam Newton and Jason Cundy.

Perrett has now had an offer from Cardiff City to join up with ex-Pompey boss Frank Burrows, who had a young Perrett under his wing during his second spell at Fratton Park.

Russell had two spells at Fratton Park. Released after his apprenticeship, he moved into non-league football with Lymington but impressed at pre-season training at the beginning of 1995/96 season and was snapped up by Terry Fenwick for a bargain £5,000.

The highlight of his career came against Leeds, with a superb display during Pompey's FA Cup 3-1 victory at Elland Road three season's ago.

"Cardiff City made their biggest signing of the summer when they landed giant 6ft 4in former Scotland goalkeeper George Wood.
The ex-Arsenal and Everton keeper has quit as manager of League of Wales outfit Inter-Cardiff to join the Ninian Park coaching staff under manager Frank
Burrows.
Wood has been a goalkeeping adviser with Cardiff for the past year but now Burrows has decided to put him on the staff as the club gear up to the new season following their promotion from Division Three.
Wood said: "It was big wrench to leave Inter because the club has been a huge part of my life for the past seven years. But this opportunity was too good to turn down."
Wood transformed Inter-Cardiff during his time with the club, leading them into Europe as Champions of the League of Wales.
But a European UEFA Cup tie against his former club Celtic last season re-awakened the 46-year-old's desire to be back in league football.
Burrows is also poised to add to his three closed-season signings with a move for another keeper - Senegal international Khadim Faye, currently playing in Portugal."

A highly satisfactory start by City saw them brush aside Cwmbran with some ease. Although it is way too early to assess things, there were mostly encouraging signs but some worries too. On a very warm evening, there was an excellent turn out including about 2,000 City fans (it was hard to judge the true attendance) but kick-off was delayed  15 minutes to get supporters inside the stadium.
If you do not know it or have not been there, Cwmbran is essentially an athletics stadium with a football pitch in the middle. A long stand runs along one side of the ground built of top of the changing rooms/sports centre and a smaller section at ground level with about 6 rows of seating. The rest of the stadium is narrow grass banking in front of trees providing a natural cover all around.
City came out in their new Modplan sponsored shirts which are very shiny and
very Americanised and hardly worth £37.00 but I guess we will all be buying
one soon.
The game took a few minutes to settle but a couple of questions were quickly
answered. City played the 3-5-2 formation much favoured last season whilst
Matt Brazier generally played at left wing back with Andy Legg on the left
side of midfield. However they occasionally interchanged and Leggy seemed to
have a lot more freedom in his role and looks set to score a few goals this season if he stays in that position. He looked the most eager player on the pitch as he chased everything and a couple of times, he was hassling ball boys to return the ball quickly so he could hurl a long throw down the touchline to set Bowen free.
Bowen and Nugent started as the front partnership again. They are surely not
the answer for Division 2 but until City sign a striker, they are our likely
starters. They was some debate amongst fans about players missing such as
Jason Fowler, Danny Hill and Richard Carpenter who were nowhere to be seen
tonight. None were named in the likely side for Haverfordwest on Wednesday
either and with Burrows confirming he has received offers for some players,
the rumour factory was rife. Time will tell, I guess.
Once City settled, chances came. Matt Brazier showed he is still a class act
by nearly running right through the Cwmbran defence. Legg was just wide and
Nugent was close too when, against the run of play, Cwmbran were awarded a
somewhat dubious penalty. Their Brazilian trialist striker (who looked more like a typical non-league knockabout) ran into Scott Young and fell but the ref deemed it was a penalty. The spot kick was very poor and easily beaten away by Shay Kelly.
This woke City up to score a couple of goals before half-time. In the 2nd
half, City raised their game (or were Cwmbran really poor?). Either way,
there was a spell when City scored, had shots cleared off the line, saves
made, narrow misses or fluffed efforts every time they advanced.

The goalscoring was as follows:

Goal times are appoximate
0 - 1 (25 mins)
Midway through the first half, a perfect central through ball from halfway
saw Jason Bowen leave Cwmbran defenders trailing in the distance. As Bowen
reached the penalty area, he slotted a low right effort effort past the
keeper and into the corner of the net.

0 - 2 (45 mins)
A sweet move down the left hand side resulted in Andy Legg beating a defender
and hitting a far post cross. It bounced up, beat the keepers despairing
dive and almost bounced onto, then off, Boland's head into an unguarded net.

0 - 3 (60 mins)
Matt Brazier received an angled cross and tried to lob the keeper. As the
ball looped up, the goalie got a hand to the ball but could not stop it going
behind him and into the goal.

1 - 3 (61 mins)
Cwmbran scored almost from the kick-off after Brazier's goal and a sign of
how City's back three could be troubled by the sharper, faster Division 2
attacks. A through ball left Young, Mitchell and Ford in no man's land 30
yards out and ex-City player, Chris Summers, had little trouble placing the
ball wide of Shay Kelly.

1 - 4 (65 mins)
The atmosphere hit Feaver pitch as some great skills to firstly control the
ball and then loft the ball forward 40 yards over the last Cwmbran defender
allowed Craig Middleton to burst through and clear on goal. His lob was
deflected onto the bar by the goalkeeper's touch. As it bounced off, Jamie
Hughes followed up with a header that also hit the bar but he then touched
the ball home from 2 yards as it came back to him.

1 - 5 (70 mins)
Another good cross by Andy Legg was met on 10 yards by Scott Young who did
well to direct the header across goal into the far corner.

It was a good work out with plusses and minuses.
On the plus side, Matt Brazier showed he is true class. Legg and Brazier will be special on the left side.
The hit of the night for the fans was Winston Feaver who quickly became a new
cult hero. He showed excellent close ball control, drifted past players
easily and gives City the dimension they were missing on the right after
Delaney's departure. He looks easily good enough to be a strong asset to the
side and if this pre-season form continues, he should have little difficulty
getting a contract. He did however let himself down at times with his
crossing but the potential is there. His hero status was assured however
when Earnie taught him the ayatollah as he came off. Feaver stood up, faced
the stand and ayatollahed to everybody with a huge grin on his face.
Midfield looked strong. Bonner seems to be settling in the side (he was the
midfield anchor and Boland looks an excellent acquisition. Boland could have
had a hat-trick but his play was always tidy too.
The negatives are still worries about the attack and defence. A striker must
be found. Jamie Hughes came on for the final 20 minutes and scored. He has
potential but in looks and style, is quite similar to Christian Roberts. He
would not appear to be a first choice striker just yet.
As a formation, 3-5-2 looked great when City attacked but they were caught at
the back several times in the second half by a Cwmbran forward line that was
not particularly mobile. It must be tightened as nippy Division 2 strikers
would be quite capable of causing havoc against City. A nice return by Scott
Young who was City's sharpest defender with some crisp tackling but, really,
they had an easy night.
Overall though, a pleasing start with reasons to be cheerful. City were
warmly applauded off the pitch, the football was decent and the early signs
in a meaningless freindly were easily more encouraging than worrying.

S.Kelly, I.Loveless, W.Faerber, C.Middleton, G.Mitchell, S.Young, M.Ford, M.Bonner, W.Boland, A.Legg, M.Brazier, K.Nugent, J.Bowen, P,Owen, N.Cadette, R.Earnshaw, C.Roberts, J.Hughes.

Jamie Hughes and Surinam born Winston Faerber are awaiting International clearance to allow them to play tonight. New signings Willie Boland and Matt Brazier are in the squad as is Phil Owen the youngster that Frank has given a 3 month professional contract to try to impress the boss into signing him further. 

Not in the squad are Jon Hallworth, who has resumed light training after surgery in the close season, Jeff Eckhardt, Lee Phillips, Lee Jarman, Danny Hill, John Williams, Richard Carpenter, Dai Thomas and Jason Fowler. City have a second friendly this week at Haverfordwest on Wednesday (7:30pm) With the exception of Hallworth, the players not involved tonight are all expected to take part on Wednesday.

Exc Winston Faerber City have a professional squad of 26 players

Results, scorers and match report to follow later tonight.

Matt signed his 3 year contract. The boys a registered Bluebird. Welcome home.

Wayne O'Sullivan is currently on trial at Plymouth Argyle.

---------------

The delay in the rubber stamping of Matt Brazier's transfer to Cardiff City is down to a "grey area" being spotted on an X-ray of Matt's knee. Frank Burrows has called for a second opinion. Its understandable when you think of the money involved, you to be as assured as possible when signing a new player. Matt himself is confident all will be well after he passed a very rigorous medical at Craven Cottage last season. The "grey area" was noted there but did not represent a major concern. Matt has been training with the squad and is looking at propery to buy in Cardiff. The deal should go ahead very soon and Matt is loooking forward to makng his debut at Cwmbran next Monday.

Report from Soccernet on the signing..
Fulham left-back Matthew Brazier is expected to complete his £100,000 move to Cardiff today.  Brazier, 23, was in Wales yesterday to undergo a medical after the clubs had agreed terms and he had agreed a three-year contract with the Second Division club.  However, Cardiff manager Frank Burrows wants a second opinion on the medical before deciding whether to complete the signing or not.  A Cardiff spokesman confirmed: 'A deal has been agreed but it has not gone through yet. We expect to make a decision today.'  Left-back Brazier was signed by former Fulham manager Ray Wilkins from Queens Park Rangers for £65,000 in March 1998. But he was kept out of the side by another former Rangers player, Rufus Brevett.  He spent a spell on loan at Cardiff last season. He is the second player to leave Fulham in four days, with striker Paul Moody joining Millwall in a £150,000 deal last Friday.

I say at the start he appears to have signed because there seems to be some slight technical hitches in the dotting of the i's and the crossing of the t's. Each media source I have accessed and the club itself have all said it is a minor delay in the final confirmation and that the deal will be completed this week. Matt was at Ninian Park today and some sources say he was able to train with his new teamates.

Video report from the BBC (inc Matt's goal v Merthyr in the FAW Cup) 236kb
(Courtesy of BBC Choice Wales)

Brazier factfile.
Matthew Brazier. Born 2nd July 1976 at Whipps Cross.
Height 5' 8. Weight 10st 7.
Career details.
Q.P.R. 41 appearances plus 15 as sub. 3 goals.
Fulham. 7 appearances plus 6 as sub. 1 goal.
Cardiff City (on loan) 11 appearances with 2 goals.

City also confirmed today that the next big signing will be Matt Brazier. All parties have agreed on the deal and it will be concluded shortly.