Bluebirds have Premier target

By David Dulin

FA Cup finalists Cardiff City go into their final season at their Ninian Park home hoping to say goodbye with a promotion celebration.

But reaching the Premier League will be a tough ask for the Bluebirds unless they can find a consistent goal scorer to aid Steve Thompson and Paul Parry.

With Robbie Fowler turning down a new deal in favour of Blackburn, the acrimonious departure of Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Marcus Bent's 11th-hour decision not to join, it left boss Dave Jones with big holes to fill.

He has been working tirelessly to find replacements and hopes Ross McCormack and Jay Bothroyd are the answers.

Jones knows Cardiff have tough competition in the Championship

The pair are among seven new faces that Jones has brought in on a shoe-string budget this summer, but he concedes not everyone is happy.

"It's always frustrating to lose any player you think you are close to getting but we are not the only club it's happened to," he said.

"I think people think we've got a bad squad here.

"But we've got a good squad of players and we've added six new players, some youth and some experience.

"We are trying to add another two or three."

The big, but perhaps unsurprising loss for the Bluebirds over the summer was the departure of Aaron Ramsey to Arsenal for £5m.

Jones had hoped that the 17-year-old would join Manchester United as he would have returned to Ninian Park on loan.

But it was not to be although he has managed to hold on to two of Cardiff's other star players, Joe Ledley and Roger Johnson.

STORIES OF THE SUMMER Ramsey completes Arsenal switch Cardiff add McCormack and Dennehy Cardiff sign Kennedy from Palace Boss Jones blasts Fowler critics Bent u-turn opens Birmingham door Johnson agrees new Cardiff deal Taylor upbeat over avoiding court Bothroyd completes Cardiff move

Local boy Ledley will again play a key role in Cardiff's campaign and with Stephen McPhail, who impressed new Ajax boss Marco van Basten, it could prove to be an exciting midfield partnership.

Johnson has played an important part in the back four and will continue to do so after the Bluebirds turned down £1m-plus bids for him.

But question marks remain over the future of his defensive partner Glenn Loovens who has been strongly linked with a move elsewhere.

The arrivals of Mark Kennedy, Darren Dennehy and Miguel Comminges will boost Jones' options in midfield and defence.

In goal there is renewed competition for the number one shirt with Manchester United loanee Tom Heaton challenging Peter Enckelman who signed a permanent deal in the summer.

Despite being happy with his squad, Jones admits Cardiff are in for a difficult season.

"There are only five teams in the Championship that have not played in the Premier League and we are one of them," he said.

"And there are six clubs that are still getting parachute payments after coming down.

Ross McCormack could prove to be a Cardiff fans' favourite

"That's what we are competing against in this division.

"We are trying to build to get out of it and the players have got to produce what they did near the end of last season."

That form helped the Bluebirds reach the FA Cup Final which despite losing, was an outstanding achievement in itself.

It means supporters will demand more success, especially to give Ninian Park the perfect send-off.

"Ninian Park has served it's time," said Jones.

"It will be a sad day when we move across the road, but it will be a fantastic achievement for the football club with everything that's gone on.

"It's no mean feat by this football club to actually deliver what I don't think a lot of fans thought was every going to happen."

BBC WALES FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

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In: Peter Enckelman (Blackburn, free), Miguel Comminges (Swindon Town, free) Tom Heaton (Manchester United, season loan), Mark Kennedy (Crystal Palace, free), Darren Dennehy (Everton, free), Ross McCormack (Motherwell, £100,000), Jay Bothroyd (Wolves, £300,000)

Out: Michael Oakes, Matt Green, Matt Smith, Trevor Sinclair, David Forde, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink (all released), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal, £5m), Robbie Fowler (Blackburn, free), Warren Feeney, Willo Flood (both Dundee United, season loan)

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