Bluebirds skipper signs new contract
CARDIFF City have been boosted by the news skipper Joe Ralls has signed a new deal with the club.
The captain’s current contract with the Bluebirds was due to elapse at the end of the campaign but he has now penned fresh terms until the end of the 2024-25 season, with an appearance-based 12-month extension also included, which would take him up to the end of the summer of 2026.
Ralls joined the club in 2010 and has been a tremendous servant during his time in South Wales.
He said: “I feel amazing. I’m really proud to continue my journey here. I’ve loved every minute of it so far.
“I’m enjoying working with the manager and this group of players.
“We have the ability to have a really strong finish this season and to carry it on for years to come.
“It’s something I’m really excited about and I want to be a major part of that.”
City boss Erol Bulut added: “Rallsy grew up here. He’s earned this new deal with his performances this season.
“But other than that, he’s a captain and our leader. His management of our team is so important. He pushes our squad whether on the pitch or not.
“These types of people have to stay. The board and myself knew he had to continue at our club. We are delighted he’s agreed to stay.”
The 30-year-old joined the Bluebirds from Farnborough and has turned out for the club more than 350 times.
Meanwhile, Callum O’Dowda says his last-gasp winner against Ipswich Town at the weekend was a special moment for him after a difficult few months.
The Republic of Ireland international has been absent through injury since the early weeks of the season. He made his comeback to the fold earlier this month and appears to have put his groin issues behind him, pouncing in stoppage time to score the goal that beat the Tractor Boys.
He described it as the pinnacle of his Cardiff career so far. “That was special,” he said. “It’s probably the best moment I have had in a Cardiff City shirt, 100 per cent.
“It makes it even more special after being out for six months or so.
“The build-up, the whole journey I have had, coming back from the injury and having a little setback, I couldn’t write it.”
The problem started for the attacker before the season had started.
“In pre-season I felt a bit of discomfort,” he added. “I didn’t really think anything of it. I am probably the type just to get on with it, but I probably should have disclosed it to the medical team and put my foot down.
“After the first four games, playing in a lot of pain, I had a scan and had an operation on a couple of things. It was hard, quite testing.
“But credit to the medical team. They have been really diligent with me, very persistent, dealing with my mood swings.”
The testing period both physically and mentally was helped by the use of life coach Jamie Edwards, the 27-cap international revealed.
“Mentally it was hard watching the lads and itching to get back out there, so I am just happy I can contribute to this team,” he said.
“There’s more to me than football, I’d like to think, but it is a massive part of my life.
“When you are not doing it, you feel like an impostor. Mentally it was testing.
“I live here on my own. That makes it difficult, especially early on when I was accepting how long I was going to be out for.
“It was tough. But I am open and honest. I express my feelings. I work with a really good life coach 24 hours a day and he has helped massively.
“I have worked with him in good times and bad, on the field and off the field. He will come and visit me or I will visit him.
“I think it’s important. He has been with me on this journey all these years and he knows everything about me.
“He has helped me massively. I think it’s important you look after yourself physically and you look after yourself mentally.”