It would be fantastic if Whitts stays – Sean

SEAN Morrison has called upon club stalwart Peter Whittingham to extend his love affair with Cardiff City for an extra year.

Whittingham was the architect of Morrison’s equalising goal against Brentford at the weekend before stroking home a 78th minute winner himself.

The performance prompted more questions over Whittingham’s fate with the 32-year-old yet to sign a new contract.

Rumours of Whittingham’s departure have been rife in the Welsh capital for a number of weeks since he dropped out of Neil Warnock’s regular first XI.

And while Morrison revealed Whittingham hadn’t disclosed any intimate details about his future behind the scenes, the Bluebirds skipper was clear in his own desire to see him stay.

“Whitts is a private person, a quiet person off the field,” admitted Morrison.

“It would be fantastic for Whitts to stay, he’s been a great servant to the club and he’s a fantastic player still.

“He’s probably not played as much as he’d want to this year, especially coming into the second half of the season, but when he’s come in he’s been brilliant.”

Whittingham came in from the cold once again to strike his 98th Bluebirds goal in the Brentford victory. He also added yet another assist to his incredible tally.

Even in a quiet season — by Whittingham’s standards — the inch-perfect corner for Morrison’s 47th minute goal brought his seventh assist of the campaign, more than any other Cardiff player.

And Morrison believes it would be hard for Neil Warnock replace that kind of record in the transfer market. Cardiff are one of the Championship’s most prolific sides from set pieces — a quality Morrison attributes to Whittingham’s dead-eyed delivery.

“His assists are something you can’t buy in the Championship and he’s a level above with his delivery,” he added.

“He calms the play down with his passing.

“And I’d be interested to see how many of my goals have come from Whitts’ assists.

“With someone like him in the team and his set piece delivery — which is second to none in the league — you know when you get a free-kick of corner he’s going to put the ball in the right place and it’s about trying to get on the end of it.

“We work on set pieces on a Friday, but we don’t have any tricks up our sleeve, we don’t try anything different.

“We just know when you’ve got the likes of Whitts whipping the ball in, the quality is different gear.”

However, Morrison added that Whittingham’s future will lie in the player’s own hands, regardless of the clamour from fans and teammates for him to stay.

Warnock has revealed a reduced contract was on the table for his midfield maestro, though a “compromised” deal has yet to be agreed.

“That’s up to Whitts,” added Morrison.

“If Whitts wants to sign another year here and the offer is there, I’m sure he’ll stay because he loves the club, he loves the boys and I’m sure he will (stay).”