The South Wales Times South Wales Times January 2015 | Page 24

Page 16. South Wales & Three Counties Herald. Issue 004 Issue 004. South Wales & Three Counties Herald. Page 17 Cardiff captain Mark Hudson a big miss, says Malky Mackay

Malky Mackay admits Cardiff City feel the absence of injured captain Mark Hudson. Hudson sat out the 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough with an ankle injury and will also miss the home game against Derby County. Manager Mackay hopes the centre-back he describes as a consistent performer will be fit to face Leicester on 12 March.“ He’ s always a miss when he’ s not playing,” Mackay said.“ I don’ t think in terms of the way the boys played [ at Middlesbrough ] he was a miss.“ But certainly when he plays he’ s a leader and someone that brings a calmness to our back four.“ He’ s working hard during the week. He’ ll start out on the pitches again and we’ ll see how he goes and whether he’ s involved at Leicester or not.” With Hudson absent, Mackay was unhappy with Cardiff’ s defending at Middlesbrough which saw them concede two goals in the opening 17 minutes. But the Cardiff manager again praised youngster Ben Nugent, who came on at half-time at the Riverside.“ I think Ben’ s come in and shown a maturity beyond in his years in terms of the way he’ s stepped in to high end Championship football pressure cooker,” Mackay added.“ He’ s looked as if he’ s been there for a few years.” Tuesday’ s game against Derby will be the first home game since owner Vincent Tan admitted in a BBC Wales interview he could consider changing the club’ s name. Tan later moved to reassure supporters that the club’ s official name would not change after fans voiced concerns. And Mackay believes the fans will remain united as long as they’ re winning and have been excellent this season.“ Our fans, every time they come to watch us, have been united this season,” the former Watford boss said.“ They’ ve been exceptional and they’ ve supported our team through thick and thin over the years, never mind the last week.

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“ Coming to the business end of the season we want the stadium as rocking as it can be every time we’ re in it. They haven’ t let us down- they’ ve gone way beyond that.” Mackay also paid tribute to outgoing chairman Dato Chan Tien Gheeand said he had secured his place in Cardiff City’ s history. The Malaysian had been chairman of Cardiff since May 2010 and a director since May 2009 but resigned because of business commitments.“ He’ s a very, very good man and he’ s been a very, very good man for this football club despite the short period that he’ s been in the club’ s history,” Mackay added.“ He’ s a very important part of the history of this football club.”

Health & Safety

Wasps & Wales fly-half Stephen Jones announces retirement

London Wasps fly-half Stephen Jones is to retire at the end of the season and take up a coaching role with the club. The 35-year-old won a record 104 caps for Wales and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and 2009. Aberystwyth-born Jones played for Llanelli and then spent two seasons with French side Clermont Auvergne before returning to the Scarlets.“ I feel incredibly lucky to have played for some fantastic sides down through the years,” he said. Jones has made 11 appearances for English Premiership side Wasps and will join Dai Young’ s coaching team for next season.“ I feel the time is right for me now to make the transition into coaching, which is what I have always wanted to do.,” Jones added.“ There is an opportunity for me to do that at London Wasps and I am very excited about the next step of my career.” Jones, Wales’ most capped player, left the Scarlets at the end of last season and signed a two-year contract with Wasps. He began his career with Llanelli then played a season for the Scarlets following the introduction of regional rugby in Wales in 2003 In 2004 he French side Clermont Auvergne where he spent a successful two seasons before returning to the Scarlets in 2006. He made his international debut as a replacement in Wales’ record 96-13 defeat to South Africa in Pretoria in June 1998. A former national team captain, Jones was a member of Wales’ Grand Slam winning sides of 2005 and 2008 and played in four World Cups. Jones overtook Gareth Thomas’ 100 cap record in 2011 and won his 104th and final cap in the World Cup third-place play-off against Australia. Behind Neil Jenkins he is Wales’ second highest points scorer with 917 points which included seven tries. He also scored 53 points for the British and Irish Lions in six Tests on the 2005 tour to New Zealand and the 2009 tour to South Africa. Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde, a former Llanelli and Wales team-mate of Jones, paid tribute, saying:“ I don’ t think I can quantify how much of an effect he’ s had over the years.“ He’ s been a stalwart, hasn’ t he, not only for Llanelli, but for Wales as well?“ He’ s one of those players, he’ s solid.“ You know exactly what you get with Stephen and he’ s had the experience of going away to France and going away to Wasps to play as well so as a player he’ s benefited from those experiences.“ And when he does turn to coaching, as opposed to playing, I’ m sure he’ ll be an excellent coach as well.”

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