Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / CARDIFF
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  My Club | Gossip | Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish League | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Internationals | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | Final Score | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Your Game

12:00 GMT, Saturday, 10 January 2009

Burke sees Cardiff as fresh start

Chris Burke

Winger Chris Burke says he needed to leave Rangers to progress his career after completing his free transfer to Championship club Cardiff City.

The 25-year-old, who has two caps for Scotland, is a former player of the year at Ibrox, but illness and injury have restricted his recent appearances.

"Moving is a new challenge," Burke told the Rangers website. "I enjoyed my time at Ibrox, but I needed to move on.

"I wasn't progressing the way I wanted to at Rangers."

Burke, who was out of contract in the summer, has made just two substitute appearances for Rangers this season.

"I wasn't playing as much as I'd have liked," he said.

"I feel as if it's the right moment for me to go as I need to be getting games.

"I'm not saying I'll walk straight into the team at Cardiff, but they're a club on the up - they're building a new stadium and their new training facilities look excellent.

"On top of that, they're pushing for a place in the Premiership. It'll be difficult to get there, but it's my aim to help them do it.

"That's where they belong. I feel as if they're big enough to be there as they've come leaps and bounds over the years and hopefully I can do well there."

The Bluebirds were looking to quickly replace loan signing Wayne Routledge, who left Ninian Park for QPR last week.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones said: "I hope he brings the pace, skill and delivery that he has got.

"I think he thought he was going to Birmingham, but there was a hitch at the last minute, it fell through and we stepped in."

Derby visit to Ninian Park on Saturday, but Burke will not feature in the match.

"To be up and down flying, getting all the gear and all of the hype of him signing, it wouldn't be right to chuck him in," Jones explained.

"What we will do is give him a chance to get to know everybody."

606: DEBATE
" Chris Burke in my opinion is the most talented Scottish player currently playing... (apart from McFadden) "
SJM 155

The Cardiff boss is keen to add more new faces to his squad, but it looks like Michael Chopra will not be returning.

Sunderland recalled the striker at the end of a loan spell in which he scored five goals in 11 appearances.

"If I sent a player on loan and they've done fantastic, you want them back in your squad to do well for you," said Jones.

"Unfortunately for us, Chops came here and did really well.

"Sunderland want him back and I've got no control over that."




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Cardiff P-P Derby (10 Jan 09 |  Championship )
Routledge rejects Cardiff for QPR (02 Jan 09 |  Cardiff )
Burke plea to end away-day blues (01 Dec 08 |  Rangers )
Burke comeback with Gers reserves (02 Sep 08 |  Rangers )
Burke agrees new Rangers contract (25 Jan 07 |  Rangers )
Le Guen offers Burke a new deal (11 Oct 06 |  Rangers )
BBC Sport Wales coverage (03 Feb 09 |  Wales )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Cardiff fans' views on 606
BBC Local: South East Wales
Cardiff weather
BBC Sport Championship
Football Association of Wales
Scottish FA
Cardiff City
Rangers
Ninian Park travel details
BBC Sport SPL
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  My Club | Gossip | Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish League | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Internationals | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | Final Score | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Your Game

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©