Alexander Told to Find New Club

Cheerio
By Chris O'Brien
July 8 2004

Neil Alexander has been told he is free to find a new club over the summer following the signing of Tony Warner from Millwall. The Scotsman has been relegated to third-choice 'keeper, and will be allowed to leave on a free transfer with interest expected from north of the border.

Cardiff City boss Lennie Lawrence has told 'keeper Neil Alexander that his services are no longer required and he is free to find a new club over the summer. The action follows the signings of Tony Warner on a bosman free transfer from Millwall and the signing of a new two-year contract by Martyn Margetson which effectively relegated Alexander to third choice shot stopper at Ninian Park.

"I'm devastated," said Alexander

"I woke up on Monday morning thinking I was going to be a Cardiff player this season and fight for my place with Martyn Margetson and by the end of the afternoon the decision had been taken out of my hands, and that's the most disappointing thing."

The Scotsman arrived at Ninian Park at the start of the 2001/2002 season for a fee of £200,000 from Livingston and an injury to Mark Walton meant he moved straight in as number one and impressed with a string of solid performances. Despite the arrival of experienced veteran Martyn Margetson for next season, Alexander kept his place for the entirety of the promotion campaign and shone in the play-offs particularly at Ashton Gate in the semi-final second leg where the Bluebirds withheld 90 minutes of relentless pressure to book a place at the Millennium Stadium. He is the only 'keeper in Football League play-off history to have kept three clean sheets.

Alexander presumed duties as first choice 'keeper as City embarked on their first campaign in England's second flight for 18 years. However, December saw City take a severe dip in form and Alexander took a lot of stick for a run of poor performances, notably against Millwall where the Lions left Ninian Park with a 3-1 victory. Martyn Margetson took over as number one and played every Football League game after that with several superb performances earning the former Huddersfield Town player his first Welsh cap.

The 26-year-old was given a chance to win his place back when City faced Wrexham in the semi-finals of the FAW Premier Cup at the Racecourse. However, Alexander had a howler between the sticks with two errors leading to the Robins' goals, and he failed to save any of the penalties in the shoot-out that followed as the Bluebirds crashed out of the competition. That was his last appearance for Cardiff.

A number of clubs are expected to offer a contract to Alexander, who can leave Ninian Park on a free transfer despite having time to run on his contract. Former club Livingston and Dundee are believed to be monitoring the situation closely from north of the border, whilst rumours suggest Leicester City may also try and sign the uncapped Jock. Alexander, who has just got married, is likely to favour a return to his native Scotland where his chances of an international appearance would rise.

Good luck to Alexander in finding a new club, and thanks for three seasons service between the sticks.