Cardiff Transfer Embargo...Ledley Joins Celtic

[Macmoish]

BBC

Cardiff hit with transfer embargo due to tax trouble

Cardiff City has had another transfer embargo imposed by the Football League because of continuing concerns over unpaid tax bills.

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has issued a winding-up order and City return to the High Court on 11 August.

That relates to an unpaid PAYE tax debt, understood to be £1.3m.

Cardiff City chief executive Gethin Jenkins says the club are confident they will pay the monies owed in the course of this week.

Jenkins says he would then expect the petition to be withdrawn.

The Cardiff chief, who joined the Bluebirds at the end of last season from Newport Gwent Dragons, said the hurdle formed part of the process of getting the club on a sound business and financial footing.

"As is normal procedure, if PAYE isn't paid then HMRC are fully entitled to lodge a petition," said Jenkins.

"Cardiff City Football Club fully expect to pay monies owed in the forthcoming week, following which the petition will naturally be withdrawn.

"This hurdle all forms part of the ongoing process of getting the club on a sound business and financial footing."

Cardiff City are no strangers to the High Court, finally seeing off a previous winding-up order in June following a £6m investment by the Malaysian consortium who have taken over the club.

The club admitted then that there had been a transfer embargo, which was then lifted - but is now re-imposed.

Players can be sold, but not signed under the terms of a transfer embargo.

The club is still believed to have debts of at least £20m and recently players' wages were delayed - although this was put down to money transfer problems.

newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8787586.stm

[Zamoraaaah]

[Lonegunmen]

(S-n-i-g-g-e-r) Anyone there worth buying?

[haqpr1963]

Some good strikers....

Not that we need them of course......

[Macmoish]

New transfer embargo hits Cardiff City plans

Jul 6 2010 by Steve Tucker, Western Mail
Comments (26)
Recommend (2)

CARDIFF CITY’S pre-season preparations are in disarray after the Football League slapped a new transfer embargo on the club.

The Bluebirds’ 2010-11 campaign kicks off in just 33 days time – but boss Dave Jones cannot sign fresh players until HM Revenue and Customs is satisfied the club can meet an outstanding £1.3m tax bill.
Cardiff Festival 2010

And, in a bid to ease its financial burden, club officials met with players yesterday to ask them to defer bonus payments and appearance money until the end of the forthcoming season.

HMRC imposed another winding-up petition on the club at the start of this month which will see the Bluebirds back in the High Court on August 11 if the money, relating to PAYE tax, is not paid.

New Bluebirds’ chief executive Gethin Jenkins has assured fans the tax man will be paid by the end of this week, leading to the lifting of the transfer embargo.

“Cardiff City Football Club fully expect to pay monies owed in the forthcoming week, following which the petition will naturally be withdrawn,” said Jenkins.

“This hurdle all forms part of the ongoing process of getting the club on a sound business and financial footing.”

As soon as the transfer embargo is lifted Cardiff will explore hopes to re-sign their former centre-half Glenn Loovens on loan from Celtic.

The 26-year-old Dutch defender was a huge favourite at Cardiff, making over 100 appearances for the Bluebirds before joining Celtic in a £2.5m deal in August 2008.

The Loovens move could form part of a deal that sees winger Peter Whittingham going in the opposite direction.

Celtic are understood to be ready to stump up in excess of £2m for Whittingham, the man who led City’s goal-scoring chart with 25 last season.

Meanwhile, Joe Ledley was last night mulling over whether to join Celtic or Premier League club Stoke City. The Welsh international midfielder hopes to sort out his future by the end of the week.


www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2010/07/06/new-transfer-embargo-hits-cardiff-city-plans-91466-26791731/

[Macmoish]

Joe Ledley’s Celtic decision is £3m blow for Bluebirds

Jul 8 2010 by Mark Bloom, Western Mail


CARDIFF CITY will be stung to the tune of £3m after Joe Ledley opted to join Celtic last night on a four-year deal.

The Bluebirds midfielder is due to undergo a medical with the Glasgow club today having decided his future lies in Scottish football and not with Premiership club Stoke City.

But it is a decision which will stun Cardiff chiefs, who were banking on a £3m compensation windfall that would have been due to them had Ledley joined the Potters and remained in the English pyramid system.

Fifa rules over international transfers mean that Celtic do not have to pay the money to Cardiff that Stoke would have been forced to part with.

And, with the Bluebirds currently battling cashflow problems and facing a winding-up order imposed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over an outstanding £1.3m tax bill, Ledley’s move to Scotland comes as a further blow.

The Welsh international, 23, flew north last night to put the final touches on a £25,000 a week deal.

The lure of European football and the prospect of playing regularly in front of 60,000 crowds swayed the decision Celtic’s way.

As revealed on our website WalesOnline yesterday, Ledley travelled up to Scotland to sign on the dotted line after personal terms were agreed following days of negotiations.

The out-of-contract City star’s future has been the subject of frenzied speculation for months.


www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2010/07/08/joe-ledley-s-celtic-decision-is-3m-blow-for-bluebirds-91466-26808580/

[Lonegunmen]

hahahahaha. another piece of good news. Must be my lucky day.

[cpr]

Jul 8, 2010 7:54:32 GMT Lonegunmen said:

hahahahaha. another piece of good news. Must be my lucky day.

Bloody marvellous news! ;D

Shouldn't have been in the playoffs anyway.

[Macmoish]

Cardiff Official Site

CLUB STATEMENT: HMRC PAYMENT
Thu 08 Jul 2010

Cardiff City Football Club Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins today spoke of the ongoing work to resolve current financial issues:

"As anticipated at the beginning of the week, Cardiff City Football Club can confirm that we have paid month one of our HMRC tax bill.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the PAYE tax bill is a monthly issue that we continually endeavour to pay on time. HMRC is currently taking a firm stance with several football clubs, not just Cardiff City Football as a consequence of historic issues throughout the industry.

"With regards to the embargo, the HMRC issue is currently resolved, as are several of our issues linked to football creditors, while we are currently working on the final football creditor. The final embargo issue was the failure of the club to lodge year end accounts for May 2009 which the new management team and Directors are endeavouring to get resolved in coming days.

"As stated previously, we remain committed to our overall aim of getting the club back on a solid business and financial footing from which the team can grow, but obviously there are going to be challenges ahead.

"As we are sure it is understood, we are not in a position to comment on every item of speculation, as by its very nature it is just speculation, and can hinder our business operation.

"Please be assured, while we work through these challenges, the management continue to work with Dave Jones on potential recruits.

"Once again, thank you for your understanding, patience and support."

www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~2087608,00.html

[toboboly]

As Mr Burns would say;

"Excellent"

[Macmoish]

FIFA brought into Ledley transfer as Cardiff fans turn on him

By Editor for Scotzine.com

Published: July 10, 2010

Celtic’s potential signing of Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ledley has gone to the highest levels of FIFA, as the club has been locked in talks with the top brass in FIFA, to make sure that they will not need to pay Cardiff any compensation.

Cardiff’s hierarchy have also contacted FIFA for adive on where they stand with their compensation claim for a player they have had in their ranks since he was 9.


The financially stricken Championship side are exploring any loopholes possible after out of contract Ledley decided to head for Celtic ahead of Stoke. Cardiff had agreed a £3m compensation package with Stoke, money they believe they are entitled to in the absence of a transfer fee as a result of Ledley becoming a free agent.

Celtic claim that since Ledley has been on their books since the age of nine, that he has made more than 200 first team appearances, playing 32 times for Wales and also captaining his country, that they are entitled to compensation.

But Celtic on the other hand, claim that they are not liable to pay anything to the Welsh side because of FIFA rules governing international transfers and that Scotland is a different national association to the one that Cardiff play under.

This compensation wrangle is believed to be the reason why Ledley had not signed on the dotted line, as he had been due to be officially unveiled yesterday lunchtime.

Celtic had taken advice from both the SFA and UEFA, and are adamant that they do not owe Cardiff anything, and are confident that the player will join Neil Lennon and his squad as they fly out for their pre-season tour of the United States.

To back up their claim, the Parkhead side cited the example of Liam Miller, who left them to join Manchester United. Miller joined Celtic in 1997 as a youth player and made his league debut against Dundee United on 21 May 2000, but he moved to Old Trafford on a free transfer after becoming a free agent and Celtic did not receive a penny. The transfer of Miller was classed as an international transfer because England and Scotland are different associations. Then Celtic manager Martin O’Neill offered Miller a contract in an attempt to keep him at the club, but Miller signed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United in January 2004, leaving for nothing.

The Parkhead side have also cited the case of Cardiff who were successful in a similar case when they signed Kvin McNaughton from Aberdeen. The full back was out of contract, and City signed him for nothing and despite Aberdeen demanding compensation, a FIFA tribunal ruled in Cardiff’s favour and they did not pay any compensation.

But now that the Welsh side had another transfer embargo imposed on them by the Football League because of a second winding-up order over an unpaid PAYE tax debt, which is reportedly around £1.3 million. The Bluebirds survived one winding up order in June following a £6 million investment from the Malaysian consortium who have now takenover the club. But the Championship club face another trip to the High Court on 11 August unless they can settle th latest outstanding sum owed. And that is the major reason why Cardiff are chasing compensation, as they are desperate for funds.

Meanwhile the Cardiff City fans have bombarded messageboards and social networking sites, including Joe Ledley’s own personal facebook page, hitting out at the Welsh midfielder’s decision to go to Celtic instead of the EPL or staying at Cardiff, and also accused him of disloyalty and derided him for choosing to play in the SPL rather than the EPL.

A source close to Ledley said, “Joe didn’t expect every single Cardiff fan to wish him well but some of the stuff that’s been said is way below the belt. He has given Cardiff great service over six seasons and thought he would have got a bit more respect from some of these people. Instead he’s hurt and stunned by some of the false accusations and general abuse flying around, and so are his family. Who wouldn’t be?”

While I can understand the Cardiff City fans opinion on the transfer saga, the fact is, it is the player’s decision if he wants to move to Celtic, the SPL, European football and the chance to win silverware or move to Stoke City, the EPL and battling relegation. There is not a huge difference between the money that Stoke are offering and that Celtic have offered the player, in fact the reported amounts only differ by a mere £3,000 a week.

Cardiff had the chance to sign a new contract with Ledley during the whole of last season, when they knew that his contract was running out, and they only decided AFTER his contract ended to offer him a new one, when he had already decided to move on. So how is that disloyal? In my opinion the Cardiff fans should be aiming their anger and abuse towards the City money men and board members – including Peter Ridsdale – who are the real people at fault for Joe Ledley leaving on a free.

Cardiff had been offered £6 million from Stoke two years ago, which they rejected. Would they have claimed he was disloyal then? Or is it all because of the club’s current financial status and that they want money for every player that leaves because they are desperate?

scotzine.com/2010/07/10/fifa-brought-into-ledley-transfer-as-cardiff-fans-turn-on-him/

[Macmoish]

Celtic Official Site

joe ledley signs for celtic

Newsroom Staff
CELTIC Football Club is delighted to confirm the signing of midfielder Joe Ledley on a four year deal.

The 23-year-old is Neil Lennon’s third signing of the summer following the arrival of Charlie Mulgrew and Cha Du-Ri.

The Welsh internationalist leaves Cardiff City after six years and will join up with the squad for the pre-season tour of America.

Ledley, who can also play on the left wing, has been capped for his country in 32 games and can’t wait to get started in Glasgow.

“Celtic is a massive club,” he exclusively told Channel 67. “I’m looking forward to the season and working with Neil and his coaching staff.

“I want to come here and win trophies. This is a great club and I’m looking forward to playing in front of a Celtic’s great fans every week.

“This is the right time to leave Cardiff and look at my career. Hopefully we can win the league and cups and it gives me the opportunity to play in Europe too.”

Celtic Manager, Neil Lennon, said, "We really are delighted to welcome Joe to Celtic. Clearly, there were a number of clubs very interested in signing him so we are very pleased he has chosen to come to Celtic, somewhere I think he can be a tremendous success."

Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell, commented, "We are pleased to be able to support Neil in his plans for the development of the squad. Joe is a highly rated and sought after young player.

"We are pleased to have beaten off competition from a number of English Premiership clubs for his signature and we are sure he will be a great addition to our squad. We will continue to do all we can to ensure that we bring quality players to the Club."

www.celticfc.net/news/stories/news_120710095620.aspx

[Macmoish]

Interesting phrasing!

Cardiff Official Site - "Celtic Confirm Ledley Signing"

CELTIC CONFIRM LEDLEY SIGNING
Mon 12 Jul 2010

Celtic Football Club today announced the signing of former Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ledley.

Joe left the Bluebirds as a free agent on expiry of his contract earlier this summer, and signs for the Glasgow club on a four-year deal.

After joining Cardiff City as a nine year-old and signing as a professional in 2004, Joe went onto make 238 first-team appearances for the Bluebirds, scoring 29 goals. During this time he has also played 32 times for Wales and captained his country.

Cardiff City Football Club Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins said:

"On behalf of Cardiff City we would like to thank Joe for his commitment and contribution to the club on and off the field during the past six years in the first team. His record for Cardiff City speaks for itself.

"We wish him and his family well, both on and off the pitch."



www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~2089685,00.html