Tony Vidmar is second summer signing

Last updated : 16 July 2003 By Michael Morris
Lennie finally gets his man. The 34 year old defender will be unveiled as a Cardiff City player at 1pm press conference today.

Vidmar arrived in Cardiff on Monday for talks, he started his medical on Tuesday and that was completed this morning allowing him to sign today.

Vidmar follows John Robinson into Ninian Park. Two signings and both from Premiership clubs. Both will offer valueable experience of playing in the higher divisions. Lennie tried to sign Vidma 1 year ago but faced with the choice of playing for Middlebrough in the Premiership or Cardiff in Division 2 Vidmar understandably took the more glamorous route. He made 12 Premiership appearance last season.

Lennie told the Wesern Mail (before the press conference was announced).

"All being well - it is an exhaustive two-day medical we put people through here - Tony should be a Cardiff City player on Wednesday.

"I am very pleased to get him at the second attempt. Last summer his reluctance to drop down from the Scottish Premier League to Division Two was understandable. Having been released by Middlesbrough this summer, though, the Premiership to Division One is obviously less of a jump.

"Tony has always impressed me with the way he conducts himself and he is now very keen to join us, which is the type of player I want at this club. He will be an asset to us as we are a little bit short of experience in the squad at the moment.

"And the good thing about him is he is versatile. He can play in three different positions - centre-back, left-back or right-back."

Jody Morris could be signing number 3. It would appear that Morris and his agent have been dealing Sam on this one so far but Lawrence is now starting to get involved in trying to bring the biggest wage earner the club will have ever had to Ninian Park.

"This one is a bit more complicated," he said. "It is a move which needs careful consideration. It's a massive step for him and for us," said Lawrence.

"Nothing is imminent as far as Morris is concerned, but neither would I rule out anything happening in the next day or two."

Lawrence's other main target Gary Doherty is no where near completion. Spurs are asking for a lot of money and Cardiff are not prepared to pay. Lennie says

"That is on the back-burner for now. We are not prepared to pay what Spurs are asking for him, so we will have to see what movement there is later in the month."

With the transfer window closing at the end of August (only 6 weeks away) Spurs might find they have to let him go very cheaply if they want to get him off the wage bill. The arrival today of Vidmar, who is a defender will mean the need for Doherty is not such a neccessity and Cardiff can afford now to take the upper hand with Spurs.

Cardiff were also linked yesterday to Yeovil left winger Michael McIndoe. He was mentioned as a potential target in an article linking him with a possible move to Crystal Palace. There is a history here as McIndoe played for Lennie at Luton, that is until he was sacked (McIndoe, not Lennie) for breach of discipline.