Cardiff midfielder goes AWOL !!

Cardiff City midfielder Jeff Whitley has gone AWOL from Cardiff City. Although not a part of Dave Jones' first team, Whitley has failed to turn up for training and Club respresentatives have been unable to contact him.

'We've called Jeff's mobile and left messages, but he hasn't called back and we don't know where he is.' said chairman Peter Ridsdale.

Whitley rejected offers from several clubs during the January transfer window after being made available by the Bluebirds. A move for the player would be better for both parties, and Whitley would not impress prospective employers with this seemingly bad attitude.



The Northern Ireland midfielder had been on loan with Stoke City this season, but has failed to figure in their first team after an impressive loan spell by Aston Villa`s Lee Hendrie and recruitment of Czech Republic star Patrik Berger to the Brittania Stadium.

Jeff Whitley was one of Dave Jones` first signings for Cardiff City, the tenacious midfielder out of contract having been released by Sunderland and played a big part in Cardiff`s solid first season under Jones.
He made 34 appearances for Cardiff City, scoring one goal during a 2-1 defeat by Watford last season.

After a well-documented spat with Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez regarding Whitley and then City teammate Phil Mulryne breaking a curfew, Whitley lost his International place and consequently missed the revolution under Sanchez including a fine 1-0 win over England.


Peter Ridsdale also appealed for Jeff to get in contact with the club and confirmed:


'We want to speak to Jeff urgently.'

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