Western Mail

Mendez-Laing shock as contract terminated

- MARK WAKEFIELD Sports writer sport@walesonlin­e.co.uk

CARDIFF City last night released a statement after the shock announceme­nt that Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s contract has been terminated.

In a bombshell update yesterday, the club said it had ended the contract over what it described as an alleged breach of contract.

The brief statement confirmed the 28-year-old’s deal at Cardiff City Stadium has been terminated with immediate effect, bringing to an end the winger’s three years with the club which he helped reached the heights of the Premier League.

The statement read: “Cardiff City Football Club has, with immediate effect, terminated the contract of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

“The club will not be making any further comment on the matter.”

Since arriving in south Wales in the summer of 2017 from Rochdale, Mendez-Laing scored 14 goals in 92 appearance­s and quickly became a fan favourite among Bluebird supporters.

The full details as to what this actually means are as yet unknown, but it is understood the player’s contract terminatio­n is not mutual and is an action which has been taken by the club upon learning of a breach of contract. Mendez-Laing had not been involved in pre-season owing to personal reasons, according to manager Neil Harris, with the forward also deleting all forms of social media.

Bluebirds fans have understand­ably reacted with incredulit­y, not least because the reason for Mendez-Laing’s departure was last night still to be confirmed.

Supporters are also urging the club to move fast to sign a replacemen­t on the eve of the new season.

“Erm.. what? Explanatio­n needed, you can’t just say you won’t be making further comments...” tweeted one Bluebirds fan yesterday afternoon.

“It’s April 1st... you can’t just leave it like that, he’s one of our best players,” said another.

Other supporters urged those on social media to respect the players’ privacy and desist from speculatio­n.

The news will no doubt cause boss Harris, who had indicated he’d completed his summer recruitmen­t, a headache with the club launching into a new season with a clash against Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

■ More football news: Pages

44&45

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom