The Neverending story of Jay Bothroyd and rumorville

Playing it all cool over  rumours

Cardiff City fans are happy to hear the club had rejected a bid for top scorer Jay Bothroyd yesterday, but it comes with a risk, he could walk away in the summer of free when his contract runs out. That move could cost the club round £2million but if he helps the Bluebirds to promotion that could generate tens of millions for the club.


Bluebirds boss Dave Jones said yesterday,

"We've had one enquiry for him and Jay knows about the enquiry," said Cardiff boss Dave Jones, who refused to name the club involved.

Although the team was not named, it is believe to have been Newcastle who were heavily rumoured over the weekend to be considering a bid.

News today brings more rumours with Sunderland who are looking to go one step better than North East rivals Newcastle and sign Bothroyd. According to press reports they see the Cardiff striker as a replacement for Darren Bent who is expected to sign Aston Villa in the next few days.

With all the manager rumours and counter rumours West Ham are said to be interested in Bothroyd. However which manager wants him, the present Avram Grant, who by all accounts is living on borrowed time with the Hammers or the manager in waiting Martin O'Neill, who is reported to be having second thoughts about the only West Ham thing.

Dave Jones the Cardiff City boss would be more then happy to keep his star striker and the player himself has constantly said he is happy to stay and make a decision about his future at the end of the season. Jones told the media yesterday,

"I had a long chat with Jay yesterday and I'm sure Jay won't mind me saying: Jay wants to stay at this football club.
"Even the club we spoke about, Jay says he doesn't want to go to.
"We said no [to the approach] and Jay knows about it, because his contract is up in June and people think they can come and take him for a measly amount of money. It's not worth what we are trying to do.
"So keep him and get the best out of him and then if he decides to stay with us or he decides to leave then that's what we will do. He wants to try and sort it out here, but he is entitled to try and get the best deal for him.
"If we want him to go because we have been offered vast amounts of money then Jay can say no because he is under contract," added Jones.
"We are trying to get him to sign here and I even spoke to Jay yesterday in training about trying to get some sort of deal done, and that is ongoing.
"But he is in his rights to do what he is doing and that is the way the football world is at the moment, and they are quite entitled to see out their contract and see what other offers are around. Is there anything wrong with that?
"It's up to us and up to him to come to an agreement that satisfies all parties, and if we can't satisfy all parties and a decision will be made either way."