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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