-----------------

Dave: Robbie Fowler is one of the biggest signings that Cardiff City have ever made and it's a fantastic coup for the club. I met him in America and asked him what his plans were for the forthcoming season. I met him again at the Celtic Manor at a charity golf tournament for breast cancer run by Gary McAllister and Andy Gray.

Things looked good when we talked and I asked Peter to come and have a chat with him - and it's been rolling on for a long time. It's been a matter of Robbie talking out of courtesy to others, mounting to speculation in the press and media which hasn't helped.

If I had lost Robbie because of press stories then I'd have strangled someone. We lost Chris Killen through the same methods, and that's why we try to keep things quiet. I've said before, and I'm not trying to be funny, but it alerts other people and I didn't want that to happen.

Robbie has given his word to us that he will sign, but some of the articles that have been bandied about have been ridiculous.

The move has given everyone at the club a lift. All of the lads are talking about it and we must be doing something right at the club because we've attracted the likes of Trevor Sinclair, Gavin Rae and now Robbie Fowler. We were after Robbie still believing that we would be keeping Michael Chopra, but we couldn't turn down the deal for Chops, so we are still in the market for someone else.

The club is getting stronger and stronger and anyone who says we haven't done good business in selling Chopra is crazy, because five million for one player and Robbie Fowler coming in is a case of probably the biggest transfer out and the biggest transfer in at this moment in time.

With the players that we now have and the stadium ongoing, we're certainly on the map - it's as if we are a new club and it's a good place to be at this moment in time.