Cardiff's Alexander rejects new deal

Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Alexander has rejected Cardiff City`s offer of a new contract. The Scottish International is currently City`s longest serving player after moving to the Welsh capital in May 2001 for £200k. Since then Alexander has always been in and around the Cardiff first team, always bouncing back to regain the number 1 jersey from the likes of Martyn Margetson and Tony Warner, Alexander`s form has been most consistent and impressive in the previous 2 seasons where he has looked more confident and assured - attracting strong interest from Norwich City. Alexander and his agent have now rejected the new offer and the talks have been suspended for the time being:

Cardiff manager Dave Jones said on the matter:
"We offered Neil a contract but he and his agent didn`t think it was good enough and since then things have stalled a little bit, Talks will continue, though.
"Neil is quite within his rights to wait until the end of the season and see what happens, but it`s a gamble in my eyes."
Cardiff City have signed a pre-contractual agreement with Irish goalkeeper David Forde who will officially become a Bluebirds player in the new year, initially as a deputy to Alexander but if Cardiff are unwilling to improve the terms of Alexander`s deal, Forde may become the City number 1.

The 28 year old has made close to 200 appearances for Cardiff and has been a loyal and determined servant during City`s rise to the 2nd tier of English football, particularly impressing of late and is currently ranked as the 3rd best 'keeper in the Championship according to the latest Actim statistics behind Birmingham`s Maik Taylor and Preston`s Carlo Nash.

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