' TOM INCE: Why I turned down Cardiff City '

24th July 2013.

Tom Ince the highly rated Blackpool and England U21 midfielder who has been attracting interest from Premier League clubs. In his debut Footballers' Football Column, Ince explains why he turned down a move to Premier League new boys Cardiff City and his ambition to break into Roy Hodgson's England squad. Before you ready his column, watch his video below in which he reveals which club he would love to sign for at some point in his career.

Another new season is fast approaching, and it looks increasingly like I’ll be starting it in the Championship, rather than the Barclays Premier League. No complaints from me on that score, despite some people feeling I may have taken a gamble by turning down the chance to sign for newly-promoted Cardiff City.

I certainly didn’t see it as a gamble when I returned home from South Wales the other Monday night and phoned my dad (Blackpool manager Paul Ince) to say I was staying. It just felt the right thing to do, after weighing up all the pros and cons.
The decision was nothing against Cardiff or their manager Malky Mackay, who is a top, top bloke. He phoned my dad to begin with and showed a lot of interest in taking me to Cardiff. I respect the way he went about it, and that’s why I went down there, to have a look at the club and speak to Malky face to face.

There was plenty to take on board. I have been playing for England under-21s, and if I am under consideration for the senior squad, might not a Premier League platform help make it happen? Especially in a World Cup season.
On the other hand, I’m still very young. At 21, I’m still learning the ropes and developing, and I’m also thoroughly enjoying my football at Blackpool. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my team-mates, Ian Holloway, who brought me here, and our fans.

On top of that, all my family are in the north-west, not least the little baby girl whose recent arrival means I’ve now got a young family of my own to think of.

Malky has done magnificent things for Cardiff, and I wish them all the very best in the Premier League, but I had to conclude I would not be going there with them. Sometimes, you have to follow your instinct, and my gut feeling was that it just wasn’t right for me.

Who knows what might happen between now and the transfer window closing? I am ambitious about playing at the highest level I can, but I’m content in the knowledge time is on my side and I can afford to wait and see what develops. If the window passes without a move, I will have no problem knuckling down to another Championship campaign at Bloomfield Road.

f**k him on to the next

f**k him on to the next

Not sure he gave a reason in that interview
Anyway its his loss

Not sure he gave a reason in that interview
Anyway its his loss

The real reason is he wants a bigger club nearer home, which is why he talks about the transfer windows, good luck with that.

He said he felt it just wasn't right on the way home on the Monday... He also says we will see what happens in the rest of the window!

To me that tells me he thinks he can sign for a bigger club than us!

Fine, he will end up a Scott Sinclair and many others Playing reserve football for one of the big clubs for 2 or 3 yrs then just end up back where he started and out of form!

Not sure he gave a reason in that interview
Anyway its his loss

The real reason is he wants a bigger club nearer home, which is why he talks about the transfer windows, good luck with that.

Agree with this. Imho, he only came down out of courtesy, fair enough,,but i think he's set his sights on a future move to either Everton/Liverpool, or, dare i say it, even Man Utd.

A footballers career is a very short one. Surely You have to grab the opportunities when they present themselves to you? He had the opportunity to play regular football at a higher level with us.. a chance for him to secure his future financially, also, if he done well with us in our first season in the premier league (even if we eventually get relegated), he would have given himself a much better chance of attracting a move to one of the bigger clubs than he will do playing in the championship with a struggling blackpool team imo. He may live to regret his decision, remains to be seen, and I wish him luck, but I honestly believe, he's turned down a great opportunity

He said he felt it just wasn't right on the way home on the Monday... He also says we will see what happens in the rest of the window!

To me that tells me he thinks he can sign for a bigger club than us!

Fine, he will end up a Scott Sinclair and many others Playing reserve football for one of the big clubs for 2 or 3 yrs then just end up back where he started and out of form!

Decided on monday but kept us hanging till friday......thanks Tom

The guy's an idiot if you ask me! £35k a week; is plenty to move your family down and live happily in a nice house, nice area settle down and enjoy a premier league opportunity!

Sounds like he's a spoiled kid molly collied by his father, well f**k him. His ego is not wanted here anyway. Can't believe he'd turn a salary like that down for 5k a week on the shittiest pitch in the country. His excuses are bollocks - Giggs was playing happily and wealthily after moving from Wales 16yrs old, took his chance.

Not sure he gave a reason in that interview
Anyway its his loss

Agree with this comment. He said feck all, really

He said he "felt he had to come and talk to Malky" but it's a bigger shame he didn't have the balls to tell him "No thanks" at the end of it all

I bare him (Tom Ince) no malice but after that I am actually pleased he turned us down. Saves us the hassle of having to deal with both his and his father's egos in the future (although I am sure Big Malky would have relished that challenge! )

We move on...

I am still a bit pissed off with ince, i think he could of said no quicker. Its obvious he is holding out for a bigger team and i will piss myself if no1 comes in for him

I hope he goes to Newcastle or Sunderland and gets relegated in his first season and we stay up

I just can't see the guy succeeding. Surely hunger and desire are top attributes for any player hoping to achieve things.

Turning down the chance to play for a Premiership team, and lets be fair Cardiff versus Blackpool, Birmingham, tup North etc wins hands down as a location to live.

The bloke needs to pull his socks up and stop hiding behind daddy.

I could have accepted him signing with a relegation get out clause, arrogant though it may have been. He's clearly after a bigger club though, so screw him.

He'll be off in a flash if Liverpool come in for him and that's a fact, His ego is not wanted here we dodged a bullet

Respect him and his choice.

Not going to act like a bitter idiot like some people on here.

Hottest property in terms of young talent in Football and not an easy choice.

We are not for him, so we move on.

Little prick what goes around comes around, lucky escape we will be better off without him.

Dando."hottest property in football"in f*****g blackpool maybe.if he was that hot why hasnt any of the big clubs snapped him up? And lets not roll out the old % thats owed to the scousers!hes good agreed but that good.feck orff!!

We have to applaud his commitment to his new family, but I believe that is a crock of shit.

If my mrs just had just had a baby and I suggested I could raise my salary by 700% overnight, she'd cut my cock off if I didn't take the opportunity.

It's all about getting another team but where are they Tom?

TOM INCE: Why I turned down Cardiff... I'm in no hurry to get into the Premier League (and how refreshing is that to hear?)
PUBLISHED: 07:30, 24 July 2013 | UPDATED: 08:26, 24 July 2013


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z2ZzrNAlcD

The decision was nothing against Cardiff or their manager Malky Mackay, who is a top, top bloke. He phoned my dad to begin with and showed a lot of interest in taking me to Cardiff. I respect the way he went about it, and that’s why I went down there, to have a look at the club and speak to Malky face to face.

Dando."hottest property in football"in f*****g blackpool maybe.if he was that hot why hasnt any of the big clubs snapped him up? And lets not roll out the old % thats owed to the scousers!hes good agreed but that good.feck orff!!

Right up there with Zaha so yes.