' Russell Slade hits back at Adam Le Fondre'

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade hits back at 'confused' Adam Le Fondre over loan shock comments

Friday 13th March 2015

Bluebirds boss Slade has insisted Le Fondre's representatives requested the loan move to Bolton despite the player's claims  he was told he could leave.

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade has hit back at Adam Le Fondre's claims he was shocked at being allowed out on loan, insisting the player asked to leave.

The striker this week said he was surprised by his Bluebirds exit, claiming Slade had told him he could leave as the team travelled to Middlesbrough for an away match in January.

But Slade this morning disputed Le Fondre's version of events at his weekly press conference.

Asked for his views on Le Fondre's comments, Slade said: "That was something I wouldn’t have made public, but the boy seems to have got a little confused.

"I spoke to his representatives a long time before the Middlesbrough game. It was a week or two before.


"They were looking to see if it was possible for Le Fondre to go out on loan. He was keen to go. It was a phone call to me from his representatives talking about a possible loan.

"Le Fondre is still part of our long term plans. The idea of him going out on loan was for him to play matches, get some football.

"With strikers it’s a confidence thing. He needed to get a little form back."

Le Fondre's January departure for the Bluebirds' Championship rivals Bolton surprised many fans after the former Reading man had been a first-team regular under Slade despite a lack of confidence in front of goal.


Adam Le Fondre celebrates his goal for Bolton against Watford
The 28-year-old, who netted just three times for the Bluebirds in 25 appearances, has scored three for Bolton in eight matches and described his move as "a blessing".

“It was a bit of an unexpected one really with me having figured so prominently for Cardiff this season," he said of the loan move.

“The manager spoke to me in the airport as we were about to fly up to Middlesbrough and explained that I could go out on loan if I wanted.

“Obviously it was a bit of a shock to begin with but once I’d got my head round the idea of playing elsewhere I threw myself into making the right decision for both me and my family," he told The Bolton News

“It has just been a really easy move for me,” he said.

“It’s better for me personally because I’ve got a young family who didn’t move down to Cardiff with me and stayed up here so to be able to go home to them every night has been really important to me.


“It was really hard in Cardiff without them but it was one of those things that had to be done.

“This move has been a bit of a blessing for me, to be able to get back up north enjoying my football and scoring goals again, so I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”

Le Fondre has two years left on his Cardiff contract and is due to return to South Wales at the end of season. It remains to be seen if he is part of Slade's future plans.

Another highly paid, pampered player who couldn't handle it when the going got tough....or was it he didn't want to play under Slade and his dodgy tactics knowing he was never going to get many chances playing in this team

This one line totally confuses me

"The idea of him going out on loan was for him to play matches, get some football."

He was a regular in our team or had Mr Slade forgotten!

The asylum is empty, all the lunatics appear to be in charge at CCFC

This bodes really well for the future! Slade first criticising Le Fondre for going public and then Slade also proceeds to openly call him and his agent a liar. Is that not just a bit hypocritical?

Good to see that you haven't lost the dressing room Russell. Yournab management skills are really shining through.

This one line totally confuses me

"The idea of him going out on loan was for him to play matches, get some football."

He was a regular in our team or had Mr Slade forgotten!

The asylum is empty, all the lunatics appear to be in charge at CCFC

Made no sence to me either as he played him week in week out

I will say this, Le Fondre moaning about not being near his family while playing for Cardiff was a shocker. I personally would of vetoed that transfer. What do player transfers panel they created actually do? Do they enquire about players' living arrangements??

This bodes really well for the future! Slade first criticising Le Fondre for going public and then Slade also proceeds to openly call him and his agent a liar. Is that not just a bit hypocritical?

Good to see that you haven't lost the dressing room Russell. Yournab management skills are really shining through.

Totally disagree. If Le Fondre goes public in the form of an accusasation, then Slade has a right to reply. Otherwise it would give players licence to say any old rubbish. I'm not a Slade fan, but he did the right thing here.

This bodes really well for the future! Slade first criticising Le Fondre for going public and then Slade also proceeds to openly call him and his agent a liar. Is that not just a bit hypocritical?

Good to see that you haven't lost the dressing room Russell. Yournab management skills are really shining through.

Totally disagree. If Le Fondre goes public in the form of an accusasation, then Slade has a right to reply. Otherwise it would give players licence to say any old rubbish. I'm not a Slade fan, but he did the right thing here.

I agree with the licence to say any old rubbish but even I can see slades talking rubbish as he said Adam had a chance to get some games yet he was playing twice weekly under slade

Oh well we wont be seeing ALF again

le fondre should just get his head down and concentrate on his football. he is in no position to be having a pop at slade or CCFC after his pitiful goal return during his time here.

pizz poor effort from his agent.....Rachet up the pressure on Slade knowing the fans are against him, hoping he won't be here next season or if he is, Lefailure will not be wanted back and allowed to go with a bit of compo......

Fed up of these over laid, pampered players, don't agree with going public with these things.

I believe the reason why alf went public was so that the club doesnt have him back and he getsa move in tthe summer, whilst trying to keep face with the fans

What the tactical genius said is here judge for yourself

Regardless of the fact Alfie should keep his mouth shut because he's still our player.
What the hell is Slade on, saying he needed to get some football, he was a regular picked by Slade

all part and parcel of the saga... le squanderer will get his move
does not matter what slade says he will soon move aside for trollope to take full control

I heard from a colleague from work who was told by someone in the club that Le Fondre didn't move to South Wales and that his father drove him down to training and that he would sleep in the car. Surely, living within a certain distance of the club should be built in to the contract. I can't imagine him commuting to Bolton from Berkshire or wherever his family live.

Le Fondre might well have been playing 2 games a week for us at the time of his loan move, but he missed loads of chances and possibly, just possibly, Slade realised that he didn't deserve his starting place in the team any more and decided to give other players a run in the team, especially as he had not long recruited Revell and Doyle in particular!

Either way, He had been afforded a good run in the team and he'd failed!