Jones angry over refusal to postpone Burton game

Last updated : 03 August 2010 By Michael Morris

A transfer embargo means on-loan keeper Tom Heaton cannot fill in for Scotland's David Marshall who has been called up for Scotland. Cardiff can't get Heaton registered because of the transfer restrictions. Just to rub salt in the wounds Scotland boss Craig Levein has already declared that Marshall won't be starting for Scotland in their friendly against Sweden next Wednesday.

On Jones request to keep Marshall in Cardiff Levein said:

"Dave Jones at Cardiff has asked me to leave out David Marshall because they're short of players but I have a really important period coming up and I need to get our players together.

"So I had to say, 'I'm sorry but I can't help you' because if I do that for one club then it would open the door to all sorts of problems."

Jones is also likely to be without Darcy Blake and Adam Matthews who are set to be called by the Welsh FA. Gabor Gyepes has not been included in the Hungary squad to face England so he will be available.

It's the lack of a senior keeper that is most alarming.

"I asked Craig [Levein] if he could let the Scottish players off and they said no because he's struggling," said Jones.

"I've asked the Welsh and they've said no so I can't do it so we might have eight players out on the pitch.

"It's never a boring time here. The chairmen have decided that you can't cancel the first league cup game. Why?

"We've got all the internationals away - what do they want us to do?

"They're asking everybody to cut the squads, to run within the budgets and then they tell you not to call games off if you're internationals are away.

"The clubs that get punished are the clubs that get more internationals than others.

"It's stupid, but then listen - we're never asked so we just get on with our jobs.

"We've tried to get the tie with Burton Albion called off, but it says in the rules we can't, but we're trying.

"What would they rather have us do? Put out a team of kids; put out all the apprentices or see fans pay good money to come and see the team play?

"If you don't play your best team in the competitions, further down the line you get told off for it."

As things stand Cardiff won't be able to use Danny Drinkwater either nor any other potential new players until the embargo is lifted.