Did Bluebirds boss get it right with the players he allowed to go?
CARDIFF City’s retained list is set to be revealed next month as Neil Warnock continues his preparations for life in the Premier League.
Key stars Junior Hoilett and Aron Gunnarsson have both been offered new deals by the Bluebirds.
And Warnock will no doubt be hoping to work his magic in the summer transfer window once again to bolster the Bluebirds’ hopes of surviving in England’s top flight next term.
However, other out-of-contract stars could well depart the Welsh capital if deemed surplus to requirements.
But what about those who have left the club during the Yorkshireman’s tenure so far?
There’s no doubt Warnock has made some big calls in allowing certain stars to leave the Welsh capital.
So, with that in mind, here’s a closer look at what the men who have departed Cardiff City Stadium under Warnock are up to now, as well as the verdict on whether or not the Cardiff boss was right to allow them to leave...
■ (Only including players who had made a first-team appearance for Cardiff).
Declan John
THE Welshman was never favoured by Warnock and — after an initial loan spell — he was allowed to join Scottish giants Rangers on a permanent deal in January.
He was a regular for the Gers last season and stole the headlines with a fine brace during his side’s 4-1 win at Hamilton in September.
His progress earned him a place in Ryan Giggs’ Wales side for the China Cup in March, with the 22-year-old winning his first international caps since playing against Holland in June 2014.
Verdict: A move that suited all parties and one that has been hugely beneficial to the player himself. Craig Noone
HIS best days in a Cardiff shirt came before Warnock’s arrival in October 2016, and the form of the likes of Junior Hoilett meant Noone’s days with the Bluebirds always looked numbered following the appointment of Cardiff’s current boss.
Noone struggled to nail down a starting place under Phil Parkinson at Bolton last season, ending the campaign with just one goal to his name in 26 appearances in all competitions, as the Trotters clinched survival in dramatic fashion on the final day of the campaign.
Verdict: Warnock’s decision has been fully justified. Idriss Saadi
THE Algerian international’s only first -team football under Warnock came during the club’s pre-season tour of Devon and Cornwall, and he was sold to Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg last summer for a reported £1million fee.
Saddi scored four league goals in 26 appearances for the French outfit who survived in Ligue 1 following their promotion in the 2016-17 season.
Verdict: Fans will always think ‘what if?’ with Saadi, but given the finances involved, the move certainly suited all concerned. Rickie Lambert
SIGNED by Paul Trollope, Lambert’s