Ledley admits his head was in a spin

Last updated : 04 September 2008 By Michael Morris

The youngster from Fairwater came close to making a £6m move to Stoke City this week as the Premier League new boys tried to take him to the top division. Cardiff refused the offer and now Ledley must put behind him thoughts of what might have been.

"I would be fibbing if I said that my head was not in a spin," admitted Ledley to the South Wales Echo.

"I'm very flattered by what has happened. But you cannot just say 'Oh well that's that.'

"I'm only being honest in saying I was thinking about the grounds I could have been playing at, the players I would have been against, the profile, the whole shooting match that comes with playing in the best league in the world.

"I'm only human and, when something like this comes along, your mind does tend to wonder what might have been.

"This is the first time in my career that this has happened and it's a whole new experience for me.

"But I know that I have to forget it and get on with the job in hand for Wales this weekend.

"I obviously talk to my close mates like Chris Gunter and Aaron Ramsey on a regular basis and they are enjoying every single minute of their experience in the Premiership with Spurs and Arsenal since leaving Cardiff.

"They tell me of the stadiums and the players they play with and who they play against. They have a real buzz in their voices and they can only be better players for the experience.

"Of course I want to join the Premiership. Every professional player in the country has to aspire to the best level they can, they shouldn't be in the game if they don't have that ambition.

"Yes the Premiership excites me, but I'm a great believer of fate and on this occasion it was not to be for whatever reason.

"I have said before I would like to make it to the next level with Cardiff City, my home town. But in the future I might have to make a difficult decision. We will cross that bridge when, and if, it materialises again."

"I'm having every youngster's dream of being a professional football player," he continued. "The bonus is that I'm playing for my home club.

"But this transfer episode is over and I have to get refocused on Wales, because we know that Azerbaijan have improved since the last time we played them.

"It's vital that we start our World Cup campaign with three points and I want to play my part in that.

"When we get back from Russia next week, it's back to domestic football and the only thing I can do is keep playing well for City in our charge for promotion.

"There will not be any moping about the place as far as I'm concerned. I'm blue through and through and, as I have said, I'm a great believer in fate.

"If something like this comes across my path in the future then so be it. but for the time being, it's Wales and Cardiff City.

"As in the past, I will give 100 per cent to those two causes as I'm proud to play for my country and my home town club."