Cardiff City bosses attempt transfer dispute settlement

CARDIFF City are to try to settle a High Court dispute over player transfers involving a former scout and two football agents, a judge has been told.

Bluebirds bosses have suggested they paid too much for three players four years ago and have made allegations of misrepresentation.

But Judge David Waksman heard that all sides were to mediate in the hope of reaching a settlement.

Lawyers representing Cardiff City, third in the Championship table, told Judge Waksman that discussions were due to take place early in 2018.

The judge, who oversaw a preliminary hearing at the High Court in London, heard the dispute centred on the transfers of midfielder Gary Medel, defender John Brayford and goalkeeper Simon Moore in 2013.

Cardiff City bosses have sued former scout Thomas Johnson, an ex-footballer, and agents Carly Barnes and Michael Carney.

Former manager Malky Mackay and Iain Moody, a former head of recruitment at the club, were also initially targeted but have been “removed” from a list of defendants and no longer feature in the litigation. All five deny wrongdoing. Barrister Jeff Chapman QC, who is leading Cardiff City’s legal team, told Judge Waksman if no settlement was reached any trial would not take place until the summer of 2018.

Little detail of allegations being made emerged at yesterday’s hearing.

Mr Chapman said Cardiff bosses were making “serious allegations” and complaining the club had lost money.

Mr Mackay, 45, a former Scottish international defender who played for clubs including Celtic, West Ham and Norwich and is now caretaker manager of Scotland, left Cardiff in December 2013 six months after leading the club into the Premier League.

He later hit the headlines after the Football Association became aware of texts containing “inappropriate language” swapped by him and Mr Moody.