Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Sunday, June 11.
Warnock told to sign ex-Cardiff favourites
Huddersfield Town manager Neil Warnock has been told to sign ex-Cardiff City duo Junior Hoilett and Sean Morrison in order to help them stave off another relegation fight next year.
Hoilett has seen his contract run out at Reading, who have been relegation to the third tier, while Morrison's first season at Rotherham United was ruined by injury after just a couple of games for his new club.
It is understood both of them have been asked to stay on at their most recent clubs, however Warnock, who will remain with the Terriers next term, could have some say in whether they head to Huddersfield, one of Morrison's former clubs, of course.
READ MORE: Cardiff City install succession plan after Man Utd and Leeds United swoop for young stars
Speaking to Football League World, former England, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer said: "No sooner than Neil Warnock is reported to be staying on at Huddersfield Town as manager next season, he's been linked with two former players who have previously excelled under him, Junior Hoilett and Sean Morrison.
"Hoilett has been offered fresh terms at Reading, who are now relegated to League One. I would assume he would jump at the chance to play in the Championship and be reunited with his former boss, he's now 33 and has a wealth of experience.
"Sean has been offered fresh terms by Rotherham after an injury-ravaged season last season, so he might relish the challenge. But both would present cheap options and valuable experience to ensure Huddersfield don't end up in the situation they were in this season."
Six pre-season games announced
The Bluebirds' under-21s pre-season fixtures have been confirmed.
Darren Purse's side will hope to build on what he described as an inconsistent season next term, following a fourth-placed finish in the southern Professional Development League 2 table.
City will take on a mixture of Cymru Premier sides as well as Premier League teams' under-21s outfits and National League South club Weston-super-Mare.
The first game, against Barry Town United, takes place on July 14 at Jenner Park.
Under-21s pre-season games in full:
- Friday 14th July – Barry Town United (A) – Kick-off: 7.30pm
- Tuesday 18th July – Weston-Super-Mare (A) – Kick-off: 7.45pm
- Saturday 21st July – Aston Villa U21 (A) – Kick-off: 12pm (Behind Closed Doors)
- Tuesday 25th July – Penybont (H) – Kick-off: 7.00pm
- Saturday 29th July – Haverfordwest County (A) – Kick-off: 2.00pm
- Saturday 5th August – Luton Town U21 (H) – Kick-off: 2.00pm
Ebou Adams back in national team colours
Cardiff midfielder Ebou Adams has linked back up with his national team, Gambia, during the off-season.
Adams endured the most frustrating campaign of his career so far, having been injured 10 minutes into his first game for his new club, a pre-season friendly against Cambridge United a year ago.
The midfielder, who joined on a free after leaving Forest Green Rovers last summer, did end the season brightly, though, playing for the under-21s and scoring a peach of a goal against Barnsley at Cardiff City Stadium. It is hoped he can kick on next term.
And Gambia boss Tom Saintfiet named Adams in his 23-man squad to take on South Sudan next week. If he does play, it will be his first competitive game of football since May 7, 2022. His last game for Gambia came in the Africa Cup of Nations against Tunisia on January 20, 2022.
The team, based at the Moevenpick Hotel & Casino in Cairo, will play their AFCON qualifier against South Sudan on Wednesday, June 14 in Egypt. Interested Cardiff fans might be keeping a keen eye on that one, with the hope being that Adams might represent something of a new signing this season.
Leeds United's 'unbelievable wages' for youngster
Cardiff under-21s boss Darren Purse says the Bluebirds cannot compete with the likes of Leeds United and the "unbelievable wages" they are offering 16-year-old kids.
Charlie Crew was snapped up by Leeds last year and is tipped to be a real talent. Indeed, he impressed for Wales under-17s at their recent Euros tournament and was rewarded with a call-up to Matty Jones' under-21s.
He was sold to Leeds for a six-figure fee last year and the Elland Road club are understood to be forking out a hefty wage for the central midfielder.
"That's the game," Purse said. "We can't get anywhere near, we cannot match the wages the boys are getting. You look at Charlie Crew at Leeds, I know roughly what he is on and he is on an unbelievable amount of money for a young, 16-year-old man.
"Even with us, if he signed a professional contract, he is nowhere near getting that level of money. So, who are we to stand in their way?
"It's not ideal, because we want to keep the best players in the academy that we can. It's the way the rules are and we just have to deal with that."
Youngster bids goodbye
Jack Leahy has penned a farewell to Cardiff City after it was announced he would leave the club this summer.
Leahy made the step up to the first team under Steve Morison last pre-season, but struggled for involvement once the season started.
He was one of the more dependable players for the under-21s and scored a winner against swansea-city-fc>Swansea City in the mini-derby before being loaned out to Haverfordwest County for the second half of the season.
The forward, 20, was signed from Brighton in the summer of 2021.
"My time at Cardiff has come to a end," he wrote on social media. "I would like to thank everyone at the club over the past two years for making my time there amazing, I wish everyone there the best for the future."
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