Russell Martin reckons the best move Swansea City made during the transfer window was to give Leeds United the brush off when they came calling for Joel Piroe. After a 1-0 home win over QPR, the Swans head coach was full of praise and admiration for his Dutch striker, who has been the subject of rumour and speculation over a possible departure all summer. Martin admitted the uncertainty had affected last season’s top scorer in the opening weeks of the campaign, but once the window closed – and Leeds’ tentative enquiries on deadline day were rebuffed – then Piroe’s first game without conjecture saw him back to his familiar best.

Gemma Grainger believes it is “our turn” after her Wales team moved to within one point of World Cup play-off participation. The Wales manager has urged fans to turn out in their numbers on Tuesday night as the women’s national side bid to emulate the men’s team in reaching the tournament finals. A gritty 1-0 victory in Greece on Friday night has left Wales needing just a point at home to Slovenia on Tuesday at Cardiff City Stadium to clinch their play-off reward.

By Harry Corish Angharad James is set to reach her 100th this camp as Wales face two crucial games against Greece and Slovenia to qualify for a World Cup Play-Off. With a record crowd due at the Cardiff City Stadium, James could receive the perfect ovation for a terrific achievement, but she has insisted that […]

By Harry Corish Cardiff City continued their busy summer transfer window, signing Republic of Ireland International Callum Robinson with a permanent deal on deadline day. City fans wanted to see a Striker brought in and Steve Morrison and Cardiff’s recruitment team were able to get their hands on a fantastic Championship quality Forward. Meanwhile, on […]

Russell Martin admitted more frustration after Swansea City conceded another injury time goal for the fifth consecutive midweek match. The Swans head coach watched his team take the lead at Stoke City on Wednesday evening through Joel Piroe – only to surrender two points when Tyrese Campbell equalised in the 91st minute to claim a 1-1 draw for new manager Alex Neil. Since Easter – across the end of last season and the start of the current campaign – the Swans have let slip an aggregate lead of 11 goals across five midweek matches in a row.

By David Williams James Rowberry praised his players’ gutsy response to a difficult build-up after they won 2-1 at Exeter City in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. The Newport manager was impressed with the professionalism of his squad, some of whom had personal belongings stolen on Monday evening after a break-in at the club’s […]

Cardiff City are reported to be in talks with West Bromwich Albion over signing Callum Robinson after Bluebirds boss Steve Morison admitted the club had been turned down by a number of strikers. Morison watched his side slump to a 2-1 home defeat to Luton Town on Tuesday night, after which the manager had a heated conversation with opposite number Nathan Jones about the manner of the Welsh boss’s post-match celebrations. Of more concern to Cardiff fans is their recent slump which has seen them not win in their last four games, during which they have scored just once.

By Gareth James Russell Martin has challenged his Swansea City players to dictate matters at Stoke City, where new boss Alex Neil will be hoping to whip up a storm. The Swans travel to the Potteries on Wednesday evening, keen to end a run of just one win in six Championship matches after back-to-back defeats […]

By Gareth James Fulham teenager Luke Harris is on the verge of a shock Wales call-up that could take him all the way to the World Cup in Qatar. Harris has been on the Fulham bench for three of their four Premier League games this season and made his debut in the Carabao Cup at […]

By Rob Carbon Luton Town boss Nathan Jones will return to the Land of his Fathers for the fourth time this year hoping to make it a clean sweep at Cardiff City Stadium tonight (Tuesday). Having already beaten Swansea City twice, Rhondda-boy Jones is seeking a double over Steve Morison’s Cardiff team as he tries […]

Swansea City head coach Russell Martin has admitted he is bracing himself for the loss of Joel Piroe after making striker Armstrong Okoflex his sixth summer signing. Martin has revealed West Ham youngster Okoflex – who scored 18 goals for the Hammers’ Under 23 side last season – is moving to the Swansea.com Stadium on a season-long loan. It appears to be an early re-fit for his forward line before the transfer deadline closes on Thursday, by which time Martin concedes last season’s top scorer Piroe may well have left the club.

Wales boss Rob Page has left the door to the World Cup open for David Brooks – after admitting the Bournemouth star’s return after cancer moved him to tears. Brooks has signed a new four-year deal with the Cherries after making an astonishing recovery to full fitness just 10 months after being diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma. The midfielder has yet to return to first team action, but such has been the 24-year-old’s rapid progress that Page is adamant a place in the Welsh squad for Qatar is a distinct possibility.

Rubin Colwill says he will concentrate on recovery after finally starting his first game of the season for Cardiff City. The Wales youngster – who hopes to be part of Rob Page’s World Cup plans this autumn – played 88 minutes of the goalless home draw with Preston at the weekend. It was Colwill’s first start for the club after four substitute appearances and rumours of both fitness issues and a suggested lack of faith held by manager Steve Morison in Colwill’s ability to fit into a team pattern.

Joe Allen has admitted Swansea City players are “letting themselves down” with their current inability to deal with adversity. The Wales midfielder was reflecting on another defeat for the Swans – their third of the current campaign – which has dropped them into the relegation zone. Allen was part of the side beaten 2-1 at Middlesbrough at the weekend, leaving Russell Martin’s side in 22nd place in the table with just one win from the first six games.

Jacob Draper was once on the conveyor belt to becoming a professional footballer, but has no regrets he switched to hockey. The Wales and Great Britain international was good enough with the larger round ball to be part of Cardiff City’s academy programme from the age of seven. He did six years alongside a tiny handful who eventually made it into the professional ranks, but would not change a thing as he follows his Commonwealth Games efforts with steering Wales towards next year’s Euro Hockey Championships in Germany.

By David Williams The brother of Cardiff City legend Peter Whittingham believes the club have finally created a legacy for one of their greatest ever players. Whittingham, who died in a fall in 2020, will be honoured by his two former clubs Cardiff City and Aston Villa, who will play a fixture in November during […]

By Paul Jones Wales manager Robert Page has warned Ethan Ampadu that he can not afford to sit on the Chelsea bench ahead of the World Cup. Ampadu played a huge part in Wales qualifying for November’s World Cup in Qatar while he was on loan at Sheffield United and Venezia, who were in Italy’s […]

Gemma Grainger admits Wales will benefit from England’s Euro 2022 success but are very much focused on their own journey. Wales, who have never qualified for a major women’s tournament, will secure a 2023 World Cup play-off spot by taking four points from their final two qualifiers next month. A record crowd – over 8,500 tickets have already been sold – is already guaranteed for the final fixture with Slovenia at Cardiff City Stadium, with interest in the women’s game in Wales reaching new heights.

James Rowberry has admitted Newport County’s revival of their proud Cup heroics has left him speechless. The County manager was impressed after seeing his team twice come from behind against Portsmouth at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night before claiming their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win. Former Penybont and Cardiff Met striker James Waite’s winner proved the key moment, one of two Newport goals scored by former Cymru Premier players, with Will Evans also finding the net.

David Brooks has vowed to soon make a return to playing action after signing a new long term deal with Bournemouth. The Wales international – who has been given the all-clear after cancer treatment – has penned a new deal which will keep him at the Vitality Stadium until at least June 2026. Brooks was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma in October but has completed his treatment and received the green light to resume his football career at the end of last season.