By Chris O'Brien
March 8 2005

Skipper Graham Kavanagh has been sold to Wigan Athletic for an initial fee of £400,000, which may rise by 50% depending on the success of the Lancashire side. It is a huge blow for supporters and is evidence of the mess Cardiff City find themselves in.

The wheels are starting to fall off Sam Hammam's Cardiff City bandwagon. Bluebirds fans have been shaken by the staggering news that skipper Graham Kavanagh has been offloaded to Championship title chasers Wigan Athletic for an initial £400,000 in an attempt to ease the crippling financial state at Ninian Park.

Kavanagh has been described as tearful when told the news that he would be sold to the Latics. He was told that he would have to leave as the club tried to stave off the suicidal threat of administration. Kavanagh has been influential in his 4 years as a Bluebird and fans will be bitterly sorry to see the skipper leave Ninian Park. Sadly, with debts of £30million it was action that had to be taken as the club tries to save itself from financial ruin.

It doesn't look like the Irish international will be the only player to leave. In fact it's quite the opposite. No less than 10 City players are said to be attracting interest from other clubs. Danny Gabbidon, James Collins, Chris Barker, Jobi McAnuff, Andy Campbell, Peter Thorne, Paul Parry, Richard Langley, Stuart Fleetwood and Cameron Jerome have all been linked with moves away from South Wales. Hammam has remained tight-lipped as Kavanagh heads to Lancashire. Fans are calling for his head. Oh, how things have changed.

"I'm an emotional man and when I was told that I had to leave the club I was heartbroken and broke down in tears. I'm extremely upset about the whole thing, but I was told by the gaffer that if I didn't go to Wigan the future of the club was in jeopardy. I love this club and planned my whole life around it." said Kavanagh, after signing a 2-year contract with the ambitious JJB Stadium outfit.

"It has been a bloody disaster of a week, I'm devastated and emotionally drained by the whole thing. The supporters have been first-class ever since I came here, through both the good times and the bad. I just hope they understand that I had no choice whatsoever."

Kav became the first ever £1million Bluebirds signing prior to the start of the 2001/2002 season. His arrival to the club was proof that Sam Hammam's vision of a quick rise up the Football League was both true and possible. In his first season at Ninian Park, he was sensational in midfield as a late season surge saw Cardiff make the playoffs. Heartbreak against former employers Stoke in the end of season lottery really dented the midfielder's confidence, though the season ended with success in the F.A.W Premier Cup. It was that season Kavanagh netted a famous equalising goal against Leeds United in the F.A Cup, a game the Bluebirds went onto win 2-1.

The following term Kavanagh captained the Bluebirds to promotion via the playoffs. The form of the Dublin-born player was not as sensational as his first season, but he was still one of Cardiff's better players. He has been equally impressive in England's second flight and now has a great chance of ending his career in the Premiership after moving to go-getting Wigan.

Many thanks for your service, and Bluebird to the Bone wishes you all the best with both Wigan and Eire.

Good luck Kav.