MONTHLY NEWSFILE
MAY 1997

Wednesday 28th May 1997

Jason Perry is still undecided whether to accept the clubs offer of a one year contract. No new players have been bought yet but its still early days. One player who looks certain to leave is Tony Philliskirk, he has been having talks with Darlington and Scunthorpe.

Sunday 25th May 1997

Tony Philliskirk looks set to leave Cardiff after recieving offers from some Northern based clubs. Philliskirk still commutes from the North to Cardiff so he sees it as going home.

Northampton beat Swansea 1 - 0 yesterday with a retaken 90th minute free kick at Wembley. Cobblers are therefore promoted to Division 2. Swansea stay in Division 3 with Cardiff.

Friday 23rd May 1997

Cardiff skipper Jason Perry is unhappy with the one year contract offered to him by the club. Perry is Cardiff's longest serving player and is just finishing the end of his testemonial season. He is only 27 years old and feels he deserves better than just a one year deal. He is talking the matter over with his family and the fans are waiting with baited breath for his descision. The fans are backing Perry and they also believe his services should be secured with a better offer. There is no doubt that with his loyalty, he would be a very good acquisition for any other Nationwide League club.

Wednesday 21st May 1997

Kenny Hibbitt has today given nine of his squad free transfers. Steve Williams, Pat Mountain, Nathan Wigg, Andy Scott, Jimmy Gardner, Ian Rodgerson, Lee Vick, Alan Clark and Hayden Fleming have all been told they are no longer needed at Ninian Park. Five players, Craig Middleton, Jason Perry, Jimmy Rollo, Lee Phillips and Kevin Lloyd, have all been offered new contacts. Kenny Hibbitt has stated that he is looking for four or five better quality players to strenghthen the squad for a promotion push next season.

Cardiff will join Swansea, Wrexham, Merthyr and four League of Wales teams in a new competition next season. Using the European Champions League format of a league followed by a knockout stage, the competition will in my opinion bring some good football to Ninian Park and obviously they will all be derby matches. The deal has been put together by the FAW and the BBC and I believe its worth over £3m. We should therefore have more TV coverage next season and be in a competition that we can look forward to winning.

Carl Dale has had surgery on his ankle. Its something he played through until the end of last season.

Friday 16th May 1997

Simon Haworth has been called into the full Wales squad for the game against Scotland in Kilmarnock later this month. Lee Jarman is on stand-by.

Jeff Eckhardt has been told he will not be fined by the club after last Wednesday's sending off.

Jeff Eckhardt was last night voted player of the year after his first season at Ninian Park. Simon Haworth collected the award for best young player and most improved City player. The awards ceremony at Winstones nightclub in Cardiff also honoured Jason Perry with a special award for sevices to the club after 10 seasons.

Samesh Kumar has promised four or five new faces in the squad at Cardiff for next season. He believes we can gain automatic promotion. Kenny Hibbitt will announce his "retained list" next week.