AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley: I left Cardiff with a handshake

By Tom Moore Thursday, October 11, 2012
11:42 AM

New AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley has admitted that he left on excellent terms with Championship club Cardiff City.

The 40-year-old was the Bluebirds’ youth team manager for five years before he was appointed as Dons boss on Wednesday.

And he had nothing but praise for the way the Welsh club went about their work.

“I always try and walk away with a handshake,” Ardley told London24. “It’s the best way to do it.

“There are a lot of good people at Cardiff. It’s another club I’ve spent a lot of time with in my career and it’s a club dear to my heart.

“There’s no animosity there. It was a handshake and good luck wishes from the CEO, chairman and the staff in the academy.”

Wimbledon chief executive Erik Samuelson also paid tribute to Cardiff counterpart Alan Whiteley for allowing Ardley to make the switch so quickly.

“Alan Whiteley, Cardiff’s CEO, has been a delight to deal with,” he said. “I’m very grateful to them for letting Neal come to us so quickly.”

During his playing career, Ardley played 38 games fo Cardiff in the 2005/06 season, scoring once.

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