By Dave Knapper | Email to a friend | Digg |
Published: Thursday 04 Sep 2008
Recent Articles | Recent Blog Posts

Jones admits to almost falling out with Stoke chief over transfer

by Dave Knapper
dave.knapper@thesentinel.co.uk

CARDIFF City boss Dave Jones claims he almost fell out with Stoke manager Tony Pulis over Stoke's deadline day pursuit of winger Joe Ledley.

The Potters weighed in with a £5 million bid for the Welsh starlet on Monday, which they increased to a reported £6 million to secure his services.

Reports from South Wales suggested the 21-year-old winger was keen to talk to the Potters but any move was shelved by the Bluebirds who resisted any money Stoke were willing to pay.

Cardiff boss Jones admits his friendship with Pulis was put to the test before the transfer window slammed shut on Monday.

The ex-Southampton chief told the South Wales Echo: "Tony Pulis is a close friend, but I could easily have fallen out with him that day. I had to ask him to back off."

And Jones claims a move to the top flight with Stoke City would not have been the right one for his wing ace.

"With all due respect to Stoke City it was not the right move for Joe and I believe time will show that.

"I don't want to stand in Joe's way of progressing and I don't want him to feel we have done that.

"He is young enough and clever enough to know it will happen. He will step up to the Premier League.

"Every player wants to do that and Joe's chance will come. I would like to think the decision to stay is the best for Joe Ledley."

Jones reacts to Stoke fans at the Brit last season

Following last season's clash against Cardiff City at the Britannia Stadium, Jones claimed he had suffered a torrent of verbal abuse from Stoke supporters. The City boss also said Stoke fans had chanted abuse at him for the past 10 years.

Jones also accused former Stoke loanee Lee Hendrie of exaggerating a foul and spitting after Cardiff midfielder Stephen McPhail was sent off during a fixture at the Britannia in November 2006.