I hope he's been brought in as a supporting act rather than the main attraction.

My suspicion is that him and Becchio are similar. Certainly Paynter's no Beckford in terms of pace etc.

Fixtures for 2010/2011 are out

For our part we start at home to Millwall, which seems to have delighted the idiots on their fans forum with much chest beating etc We have history against them but, then again, who doesn't?

A tough run-in for us of Ipswich, Blunts, Forest, Derby and Dull.

Can't wait!

I assume we're all still laughing at Cardiff? I know I am

Here's a bit more Cardiff fun for you, just so we don't forget anytime soon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhypHx8gsjM&feature=player_embedded

Still very quiet regarding speculation from my club. We let 9 go as soon as the season finished, but we haven't even been rumoured to buy anyone at all. Normally the rumour mill is in overdrive at this time of year.

On the plus side, we haven't accepted any bids for Maynard yet either. I expect him to go this summer. It will only be to a Prem club if and when he does go.

After posting that yesterday I see quite a few sources are saying this morning that we are in negotiations with Dave Kitson.

I'd welcome that with open arms, but I don't know that we will be prepared to meet his wage demands and, also, does this mean Maynard is on his way out? A Maynard and Kitson front pairing in The Championship would be formidable I think. Not that I think anything will come of it

Not half as formidable as Wickham though. Will be interesting to see how he does this coming season. If he's as good as some have suggested, he's probably playing in the wrong division.

Oh dear, looks as if the Southend United chairman may have been a bad boy.

Oops

And so it starts...the Newcastle effect. People are going to be sick of seeing us. Flattering in a way, but I didn't like the Newcastle obsession so I won't be a hypocrite and say I approve just because it's us.

First two games in the Championship on TV. 5.15pm kick off for the first game. Awful.

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20100625/early-screen-tests-for-united_2247585_2078536

We had Cole and his missus over last night. He said there is a rumour going around the squad that Coppell has been told he has £20mill available to him for transfers this season. Apparently Lansdown has made it quite clear he wants the club in the top flight by the time the new stadium is open. If any of that is true then that's a huge amount of money in that league. He would be spinning me any crap, but the rumour may be incorrect, fo course. I do know for a fact that Lansdown sold £50mill of his business shares last year purely to put into the club and new stadium, so it may not be entirely without substance.

Also, star striker Nicky Maynard has been offered improved terms to attempt to keep him at the club. A wage increase to £16k a week which will make him the highest paid player at the club. According to Cole he is more than happy at City, but as I've said before - money and the allure of a top flight club talks

£16k a week in the Championship.

Wow.

One of the many reasons why England are rubbish. These guys don't have to achieve anything, or even play in the top league to be on easy street. Including add ons, pension etc that's over a million a year. Bet the rest of the squad, whatever they say, wouldn't be chiffed to hear that.

Not a go at Maynard, at all, just the idiocy of football in this country.

Rumour has it that £16k a week is what Beckford wanted during contract negotiations 12 months ago, ie when we were well and truly a League One team with a tough season to come. 

No wonder he didn't get it...

Cardiff City players haven't been paid again  Pre-season tour to Malaysia has been cancelled  All is not well behind the scenes 

And no one is surprised

What is your average crowd? 3000-ish? I reckon you'll scrape by with 4700

For Tricky and any other Cardiff fans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8775247.stm

Love the excuse

Deep do-do is the phrase I think

Another one bites the dust. This time a Friday night.

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20100630/televised-derby-trip-to-donny_2247585_2081283

I tell you what Matty - I can't imagine that SKY or the BBC won't pick up one of our matches

Tricky may be right, but I know one thing. That article has EVERY tell tale sign of trouble that could possibly exist. It fits the bill on every count.

Aye. Our league position will dictate the likelyhood of that. Coppell has started popping up on every other football show on Sky since his return to management I notice. Our first year back in the Championship, when we reached the playoff final, including the two semis and the final we were on Sky 14 times that season because we occupied the top 6 from beginning to end. Whilst you appreciate the coverage it ruins your live games to some extent, and certainly spoils Saturdays. We've just lost one of our game. Our game with QPR has been moved back to the Friday night because Sky are showing it. Fortunately (for us) we're at home, so it's not too bad.

As an aside I'm told we have reached the 13k mark for season tickets. A good figure for us

You've sold more STs than us, but then with prices starting at £540 what do you expect?

Yet another one bites the dust, by the way.

http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20100630/fourth-televised-game-named_2247585_2081670

I see the condoner of hooliganism wants his job back:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-football/2010/07/01/hammam-shock-city-return-91466-26762233/

Or, more to the point, wants his money back  The club owe him a fortune. This is the man who pretty much encouraged the hooligan element.

To be fair, I've had a peek at the Cardiff forum and most of them are up in arms about this.

No wages, no money, crippling debt, no preseason tour, players leaving, malaysian syndicate getting cold feet, Bellamy staying at Man City and the hooligan returning. It's like an episode of Eastenders

We have a new signing. Albert Adomah from Barnet. He's a winger

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/8779958.stm

Anyone on here know anything about him at all? He's supposed to be an upcoming talent. He turned down a move to the Prem with Blackpool. I've never heard of him. He's obviously never heard of us either because...

Last time I checked, we weren't a big club, and as for giving youngsters a chance? We spent the last 5 years under Gary Johnson doing the exact opposite and the youngsters couldn't get a look in.

New era now. Hopefully he will grasp the opportunity and live up to expectation.

Just to remove any lingering doubt

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2010/07/05/cardiff-city-face-winding-up-order-over-unpaid-tax-91466-26785453/

No doubt they'll go crying to the taff FA and get themselves another chance. No wonder clubs like Portsmouth and Palace are up in arms about this. This will be their fourth 'last chance' I think?

Cardiff hit by more of the brown stuff.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8787586.stm

Just as a reminder, I uncovered this little gem from the BBC archives. I haven't laughed so much at a story for quite some time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/713512.stm

Obviously, as a Leeds fan, that article resonates with me more than most. And laughter is understandable if you don't know the background, how he really was, and probably is, a good man who completely lost track of reality.

I remember those dark days of Istanbul. To this day the murdering scum have been protected by the backward system that exists in a country I will probably never visit because of its attitude to unprovoked murder.

Ridsdale brought an air of decorum, of self respect, to a situation which could have exploded. He will always have my utmost respect for that that cannot be diminished by what subsequently happened.

The fact that he had a gobby manager in O'Leary who is and was so poor it's unbelievable, but who happened to stumble across a youth set up that was equalled only by that at Old Trafford, sealed the deal. He let his heart rule his head. He lost track of reality and then, as it all fell around him, he went into denial mode.

So yes, there are two totally differing memories of Ridsdale. The fan's chairman who cared but didn't know when to say no. And the modern version which denies the havoc he preside over, that took us to League One, and most importantly allowed Ken Bates to get in a door he should never have got within 200 miles of.

But it's not funny. Not to those who know, anyway.