Advertisement
Cardiff CEO Ken Choo (right) with Emiliano Sala. Twitter/Cardiff City FC

Cardiff won't be given transfer window extension despite disappearance of record signing

The Premier League club’s chief executive says there is a ‘sombre’ atmosphere since Emiliano Sala’s plane went missing on Monday.

CARDIFF CITY MUST abide by the 31 January transfer deadline as they attempt to bolster a “pretty sombre” dressing room.

The Welsh club are still coming to terms with the disappearance of the plane carrying Argentine striker Emiliano Sala on Monday.

Sala, who became Cardiff’s record signing last week after agreeing to join from Ligue 1 side Nantes, was confirmed by French authorities as one of two people aboard a Piper Malibu that vanished en route to the Welsh capital.

The search for the aircraft carried into a third day on Thursday but hopes of a positive outcome continue to recede.

Football matters have, understandably, been a secondary consideration but Cardiff CEO Ken Choo admitted the club are trying to bring in new players before the window closes in a week’s time.

He told talkSPORT: “From the club’s perspective we are managing this situation but we have another department that has to continue with looking at transfers.

“I am multi-tasking three or four jobs at once, it’s really difficult physically and mentally to cope in a situation like this when we have to segregate our minds to look for Emiliano, to help the family – and the club is trying its best to provide the most care for the family and give them the information that is factual.

“We are trying to co-ordinate with the authorities and yet we are still running a business which continues, we still have to meet the [transfer] deadline.

“We have spoken with the Premier League on how tough it is for us to cope given there are eight days to go and we have been watching Emiliano Sala for months and we got it over the line finally.

We have eight days to go and we don’t really know how to cope in this scenario, we have to meet the deadline, the bottom line from the Premier League is that you have to meet the deadline like everyone else.”

Cardiff are 18th in the Premier League table, two points adrift of Newcastle United.

Choo added: “I went to see the first team yesterday to ensure the manager is fine, the coaching team is fine, the back-office staff are fine and the players are fine.

“I spoke to the captain [Sean Morrison] and some of the leaders, the rest of the players. They are trying to cope with the situation, the dressing room is pretty sombre, they are all pretty shocked.

“As chief executive I have to pull them together and try to get through this and we have a game to play next week [at Arsenal on Tuesday].

“Everyone knows it’s difficult, the players are aware of all the facts but we have to pull up our socks and get on with it.”

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

Author
View 6 comments
Close
6 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 10:24 AM

    Defence is the biggest difference that sexton ( and henshaw) will bring. Taking the line up is a very strong part of his game. Leinster over the past few months have been very passive in defence this has to stop. Seanie looks like he’s going to start ( not sure I’d go with that but hey) he needs to dominate contact, so far this year he’s been very passive, he’s not go the skills and ability of Max or the work rate of Ruddock so he needs his best game in about 2 seasons.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute grandslamkbo
    Favourite grandslamkbo
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 12:56 PM

    @Chris Mc: O’Brien shouldn’t start this game. He has no form at all. Leinster have plenty of practice winning massive games without him.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 2:11 PM

    @grandslamkbo: I agree, my backrow who be Fardy, Conan and Ruddock. But it looks like Sean is starting.

    2
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Quinn
    Favourite Martin Quinn
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 2:34 PM

    @Chris Mc:

    So Chris do you think J Lowe wont make the team , even if we need tries ::can you let us see your team ::thanks

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 5:34 PM

    @Martin Quinn: I never said lowe not to start. I wouldn’t pick O’Brien.
    My team
    Healy, Cronin Furlong
    Ryan and toner
    Fardy toner and Ruddock
    McGrath and sexton
    Henshaw ringrose in the centre
    Lowe, Kearney and larmour

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Demps
    Favourite Jim Demps
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 9:43 AM

    With Leinster back to more or less full strength they should have too much powder for Toulouse. It’ll be a cracking game but I think home advantage is worth around 7 and with the bookies calling it an 8 point Leinster win I’d say that’s about right, maybe even slightly more.

    The two key factors will be the form of their returning key men – sexton and ringrose especially and secondly they need to tighten up defensively. They’re leaking on average 24 points a game over the last 7 games so if they can bring that number down then there should be handy enough winners against a young but very talented Toulouse side.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fred McHugh
    Favourite Fred McHugh
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 10:12 AM

    @Jim Demps: gun powder. Toulouse like leaking points as well haha

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Demps
    Favourite Jim Demps
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 10:27 AM

    @Fred McHugh: they absolutely do but getting into a high scoring slug out wouldn’t be the best idea for Leinster. Structure and wear them down and they’ll walk it.

    14
    See 12 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Baz Dunne
    Favourite Baz Dunne
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 10:47 AM

    Your anti Leinster bias is old and predictable. You might pepper it with occasional compliments but everyone knows you can’t stand us.
    At least some of us admit we can’t stand the other.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Baz Dunne
    Favourite Baz Dunne
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 10:48 AM

    @Fred McHugh: apologies Fred that reply was meant for Jim Dumps.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Demps
    Favourite Jim Demps
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 11:20 AM

    @Baz Dunne: i thought you had me muted? Couldn’t go a week without me eh?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 11:37 AM

    @Jim Demps: you get some amount of stick on here. Good job your not sensitive. Anyways tell your mob to keep up their end and we’ll see you in the final.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Demps
    Favourite Jim Demps
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 11:44 AM

    @Chris Mc: era I take no notice. If some grown man spends his day slinging insults at me then I figure let him at it, he can’t have too many important things going for him. Once they make it personal I normally just ignore them until they want to talk about rugby. The only person I’ve muted is Martin though.

    I fully expect munster to win. It won’t be easy but the result is there for us if we show up.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Baz Dunne
    Favourite Baz Dunne
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 1:18 PM

    @Chris Mc: bless you Chris you say every yr there’ll be an all Irish final and it never happens. Can’t see it happening this yr.. in fact I’d say Sarries v Toulouse is more likely than Leinster v Munster in my opinion.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fitz Mac
    Favourite Fitz Mac
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 2:01 PM

    @Jim Demps: He misses you Jim. Baz gets lonely with all those Dubs ; )

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fitz Mac
    Favourite Fitz Mac
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 2:11 PM

    @Baz Dunne: It’s going to be a Munster vs.Leinster HC & Pro 14 final .Believe Baz , believe.Eire Abu !!Éire Abú!!!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 2:13 PM

    @Baz Dunne: this is the third year in a row where both sides got to the semis. It might be this year, I hope so. As long as we win the 5th I’ll be ok but it would be so sweet to beat munster in the final.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Quinn
    Favourite Martin Quinn
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 2:21 PM

    @Baz Dunne:

    Baz I hope are not annoyed with me, just because he has Muted me and not you, does not mean you need to up your game !! He does run away when things get hard and someone sees his hidden knife jabs at all things Leinster.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Quinn
    Favourite Martin Quinn
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 2:30 PM

    @Martin Quinn:

    Just love his comments saying you are a “grown man spends his day slinging insults at me” Baz all your posts are about 2 sentence’s long and you post maybe 2 posts where his 10 posts a page tells it all >> One page had 28 posts ::WOW now he is hoping for the 42.ie to hire him ::the lad has a problem ::and he says you “cant have too many important things going for you”
    Keep happy : ) ; )

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Quinn
    Favourite Martin Quinn
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 2:47 PM

    @Fred McHugh:

    Regarding the 24 points per game I feel we were through to the play off for all that time. I feel it would a lot less if we put a better team out, but it does not matter now as it all comes down to this weekend .
    Regarding Munster
    I believe Munster will bring out one of their famious European games and get through (and I may have a go at some posters but I will always cheer for Munster in these games) Wish you the very best
    COYBIR

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Cussed
    Favourite Con Cussed
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 9:39 AM

    “We can’t kick loosely to them or their counter attack Will punish us.”

    He has a tenacity to kick when there’s a need to keep possession, I hope he remembers this during the game. COYBIG

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Camroc
    Favourite Camroc
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 9:41 AM

    @Con Cussed: You really are concussed.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Con Cussed
    Favourite Con Cussed
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 11:26 AM

    @Camroc: What for? This is the biggest weakness in his game, other scrum halfs too within the Irish setup, they keep kicking the ball away when we need to protect it. We often kick the ball to the opposition at crucial parts of the game (often the last few minutes) and have lost games as a result.

    3
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Mc
    Favourite Chris Mc
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 11:39 AM

    @Con Cussed: I think some of that is he’s trying to show joe he can do the Conor Murrary role. There’s a time and place for kicking the ball away and Luke’s not really a master at it.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddie Hekenui
    Favourite Eddie Hekenui
    Report
    Apr 18th 2019, 11:42 AM

    @Con Cussed: Which games have we lost as a result?

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel