Cardiff City Press Conferance

Lennie Lawrence
By Chris O'Brien
July 13 2002

Yesterday, Lennie Lawrence held a press conferance at Ninian Park. Some intresting things were said, including news on future signings, and reasons behind signing, Chris Barker.

Yesterday (Friday), Lennie Lawrence held a very intresting press conferance, where he discussed new signing, Chris Barker and other possible new signings.

"Chris is in the same age group as Gabbidon, Earnshaw, (Neil) Alexander and (Andy) Campbell and they are all players who are fundamental to Cardiff's future

"I hope Chris is in that same mould. He's an investment. I won't be spending money on players unless they're under 25. "We want a great nucleus of young players at this club and that's why we went for Chris. He's got good potential and is a good defender.

Chris Barker seems delighted with his move to Ninian Park, saying:

"Four years ago I was playing for Alfreton in front of 50 people and on a dodgy pitch, so this move is a dream come true.

"Cardiff are hot favourites to win promotion and that means the players here will be under a lot of pressure, but I was used to pressure at Barnsley.

"After the club was relegated from the Premiership a lot of people expected us to go straight back up."

"I hope to make the left-back spot my own. I know there's a lot of competition for places at the club and that was at the back of my mind when I was thinking of signing. But this is a big club that wants to go places. I want to be a part of that."

"There were a couple of First Division sides who were interested, but I didn't think they would have taken me any further," he said.

"When I knew Cardiff had been in contact I was keen to come down here.

"I spoke to the chairman and he sold it to me really well. He has big plans for the club and I'm sure we'll be looking to perform a bit better this season than last - especially for the fans.

"I know they really get behind the team and are really passionate. Hopefully, I'll play well and they'll get behind me too."

"In being relegated to Division Two they had to get rid of some players, and I was one of them. Lucky enough, Cardiff came in for me and I am happy to be here."

"I see him more as a defensive full-back than an attacking one. He's played more than 100 games in the First Division and that's not to be sniffed at.

"Gabbidon played a lot of games at left-back last season, but I don't want him to be trapped there as I see him as more of a centre-back.

"Time will tell if Chris is as good as Gabbidon - but first he's got to get in the team because there's a lot of competition for places here."

"Barnsley were relegated last season and when a club is relegated they usually have to sell and sell quickly. Barnsley lowered their price on Chris considerably and that was another reason to buy him.

"We were short on left-footed players last season but now, apart from Andy Legg, we've also got Gareth Whalley and Chris."

Lawrence also talked about the possible signing of goalkeeper, Danny Coyne, and Gary Croft.

"A lot of other clubs will be interested in Danny Coyne because the transfer fee Grimsby will be looking for now is significantly less than it was a year ago.

"We are in talks with Danny, but those talks are at an early stage. If he came here he would start the season in second place because Neil Alexander performed so well."

"Danny has been transfer-listed, which has put everyone on red alert, and the best way to describe our interest is 'on-going'.

" About Croft, I thought he did all right, considering he hadn't played much football before he came to us. He wasn't outstandingly brilliant but he didn't let us down, either.

"I thought he did a good job for us. He was cover and we were lucky to have him because, at the end, we were running out of players while Stoke were getting them back."

"I won't be signing anyone unless they are First Division standard. That's the yardstick. We've done that with Gareth Whalley and we've done it again with Chris Barker."

Many Thanks to The BBC for these quotes.