Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has revealed to Wales Online that Kieran Richardson and Marouane Chamakh are set to be released from the club next month.
The pair have only been at the Bluebirds since October, shortly after the arrival of new manager Warnock. They both signed short-term contracts until January and arrived with Premier League experience and well-known names.
Neither players have managed to hold a regular spot in the team. Ex-England international Richardson made six appearances, with only two of those being starts. The former Arsenal striker Chamakh played even less. Two appearances, both as a substitute, were all the Moroccan international managed with his last being at the start of November.
The Sheffield-born manager said, “I’ll be speaking to them, because it’s important that I get the right balance, probably before the Boxing Day game we’ll be having a talk with those two.
“It’s not 100%, but I think both lads realise that I want to bring people in, and they’re the obvious two that I can get off the wage bill. So the chances are that we will be releasing them. I feel a bit sorry for Chamakh because I brought him in, looking at the videos I thought that we needed an influx of players.
“I wasn’t aware of Huwsy at the time, or of Declan John when I brought Kieran in. I didn’t think we had any cover at all for Rickie Lambert which is why I brought Chamakh in. When the opportunities have come I’ve actually gone with Freddie because he’d done well in training.
“I’m looking for more of a Ken type player [up front].
“He’s been a good pro really, he’s given me no hassle whatsoever, trained well. Kieran’s been a really good pro but I feel we’ve got to manipulate this squad and those two are the easiest targets.”
The ex-Crystal Palace boss revealed that Chamakh has had offers from abroad.
“They’ll both get clubs. Chamakh, he can make a fortune in Qatar and these places, the money that he’s been offered is quite immoral really. You can’t blame him, can you? When you look at Oscar, it’s frightening the way it is going.”
The ever-honest Warnock is correct about the money in the emerging cash-rich football clubs. Carlos Tevez is expected to make £600,000 a week in his rumoured move to China and perhaps Asia is the next destination of Richardson and Chamakh.
