"He is a great character. Any Championship club which was looking for a player who drives people on and wins tackles should have signed him. Cardiff have done well to get him.
"Jeff was different class for me, putting in tackles and winning the ball. Without players like him Julio Arca could not play, Marcus Stewart would not have got his goals and Stephen Elliott would not have been the same player."
Cardiff are waiting to announce the completion of Whitley's move from the North East.