Page set to complete Coventry switch

Last updated : 22 February 2005 By Michael Morris
Robert Page's short Cardiff City career should come to an end today. The 30 year old defender was having his medical on Monday evening in Coventry and the switch, a free transfer, is expected to be completed sometime today.

The move is not a loan but a permanent transfer, Page signed a 2 year deal last summer but injury and then the form of James Collins and Daniel Gabbidon has kept him out of the squad and restricted him to just 8 starts. He was first choice at the start of the season, he started the opening 8 games but then picked up a rib injury and the Collins and Gabbidon took over.

Page's last City action was coming on as a sub at Watford over Christmas.

"I didn't want to leave Cardiff. When I came to the club in the summer I was hoping it would be the last move of my career," Page told the Western Mail

"I was delighted when I had the chance to sign for Cardiff. But I had to get away because I wasn't playing first-team football."

"If I'm going to stand any chance of playing for Wales then I have to be playing for my club. That was the overriding factor in deciding to leave Cardiff."

Page will not face City when then teams meet at Highfield Rd on March 12th, because it's a permanent signing Page is free to play against any team but a gentlemans agreement between the clubs will see Page miss that game.

"I have Rob's word - and Micky Adams' word - that he won't play against us," said Lennie to the Western Mail.

"I don't want to see Rob go and he doesn't really want to leave. It saddens me that it has come to this. But we both know that Rob needs to play and the prospects of him playing, regardless of his injury, are not great because of the form of James and Gabbs.

"He hasn't really had a chance to stake a claim here. I reluctantly agreed to let him go."