Club still pursuing individuals over Malky transfers

[Michael Morris]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...scout-13933823

Cardiff City suing former scout and two agents over claims club 'lost money' on transfers

Ex-manager Malky Mackay and former recruitment head Iain Moody were initially targeted but have been 'removed' from the case

The dispute relates to deals for Chilean midfielder Gary Medel (left), full-back John Brayford (top right), and goalkeeper Simon Moore

Cardiff City are to try to settle a High Court dispute over player transfers involving a former scout and two football agents, a judge has been told.

Bluebirds bosses have suggested they paid too much for three players four years ago and have made allegations of misrepresentation.

But Judge David Waksman heard that all sides were to mediate in the hope of reaching a settlement.

Lawyers representing Cardiff City, currently third in the Championship table, told Judge Waksman that discussions were due to take place early in 2018.

The judge, who oversaw a preliminary hearing at the High Court in London, heard the dispute centred on the transfers of midfielder Gary Medel, defender John Brayford and goalkeeper Simon Moore in 2013.

Cardiff City bosses have sued former scout Thomas Johnson, an ex-footballer, and agents Carly Barnes and Michael Carney.

Former manager Malky Mackay and Iain Moody, a former head of recruitment at the club, were also initially targeted but have been “removed” from a list of defendants and no longer feature in the litigation.



All five deny allegations of wrongdoing.

Barrister Jeff Chapman QC, who is leading Cardiff City’s legal team, told Judge Waksman if no settlement was reached any trial would not take place until the summer of 2018.

Little detail of allegations being made emerged at Tuesday’s hearing.

Mr Chapman said Cardiff bosses were making “serious allegations” and complaining the club had lost money.

Mackay, 45, a former Scottish international defender who played for clubs including Celtic, West Ham and Norwich and is now caretaker manager of Scotland, left Cardiff in December 2013 six months after leading the club into the Premier League.



He later hit the headlines after the Football Association became aware of texts containing “inappropriate language” swapped by him and Mr Moody.

In 2015 the FA said Mackay would face no disciplinary action following an investigation into the texts.

Officials said Mackay and Mr Moody had acknowledged some of the language used in their text exchange was not acceptable.

They said Mackay had voluntarily undertaken equality and diversity training.

Medel now plays for Turkish side Besiktas, Brayford for Burton Albion, and Moore for Sheffield United.

[life on mars]

I think it's right someone makes a stand even if the lose at least the story is out there.

[TH63]

I don’t understand this. If we were mug enough to pay too much for a player, isn’t that our fault for being, well mugs?

[life on mars]

I don’t understand this. If we were mug enough to pay too much for a player, isn’t that our fault for being, well mugs?

Making a point perhaps

[TH63]

Making a point perhaps

Maybe.
If this is an investigation into agents taking the piss, then fine.
If it exposes a scout who has done something wrong, then fine.

But the club went after M&M rigorously and came up empty. This just smacks if desperation imho, and to be perfectly honest, the last thing this club needs right now is any off-field distractions.

[BlueToujours]

I don’t understand this. If we were mug enough to pay too much for a player, isn’t that our fault for being, well mugs?

As I understood it from earlier reports, then, allegedly, certain people, who were, allegedly, not in anyway involved with these transfers, received payments to which they were not allegedly entitled.