Chris Burke - What Have You Done ?!?

Cardiff City will have to do without the services of tricky Scottish winger Chris Burke for the upcoming season after his contract expired and he left South Wales.

It had been a difficult time for Burke, who has a young son in Scotland and was travelling all round the country with the Bluebirds. Burke maintained he was generally happy here, but suffered a dramatic dip in form, seeing him lose all confidence and the ability to torment defenders. Friom a real threat, both creatively and in front of goal - he became somewhat of a passenger for the Bluebirds.

Talks over a new deal stalled and it became apparent he would re-consider his options at the end of the season with a move back to Scotland looking certain. It's no surprise he opted to leave, after the end-of-season disappointment and the unceretainty regarding our manager and squad.

It was somewhat of a surprise however that he ended up with Birmingham City - the West Midlands club scarecely closer to his son than Cardiff. The major factor in that decision was surely Alex McLeish who signed him for Rangers and worked with Burke for several years. Indeed, McLeish did make contact with Burke prior to his joining the Bluebirds.

McLeish has now departed Birmingham City, to controversially take up the managerial position left vacant by Aston Villa sacking Houllier. Birmingham City are left managerless following their relegation, and look likely to lose more players like Scott Dann and former Cardiff City man Roger Johnson.

Burke is now left somewhat in limbo. He may not even be wanted by the new manager, though he doubtless has plenty to offer when on form. A fresh start may be exactly what the flying Scottish winger needs to kick-start his career again - if it wasn't for that, he would surely be ruing the decision to leave Cardiff City in the first place.

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