Mark Rowlands looks at the latest installment of the Leighton James story

Let me remind you of what exactly has happened so far

• Leighton claimed he would rather see Swansea boy Simon Davey at Wembley than Cardiff City
• Cardiff City fans were angered and deluged Real Radio with calls expressing their total disgust and how every Cardiff fan wants Swansea to be promoted
• Leighton was sacked, sorry I mean suspended, by the BBC for his comments

And that is that.   In fact Leighton was more out of order when he was caught drink driving than with any of the above but for some reason that goes down OK with the world, but to dare to want to see a local lad succeed and the whole world comes crashing down.  The credit crunch seems small fry in comparison.

And so onto today's instalment.   Dave Jones claiming that he doesn't care about it but rambles on for quite some time about it and claims he would never sink to that kind of level before suggesting that James is a non-entity and if "he wants to make those comments to my players’ faces I can arrange it!"

As I said in my other piece on this subject I hope Cardiff win their semi final, I bear them no malice but yet again the Western Mail owned papers have dropped again to the level of stirring up trouble between two clubs.  In much the same way as Trundle and Tate were out of order two years back, they don't help with front page "Ban this idiot" stories and again, James makes a comment and loses his job as a result (was the comment that bad?) and now they stir up trouble ahead of the Swans seemingly set for a return to derby action next season.

Jones said “In the time I have lived in Wales, I have learnt that the Welsh are a proud people and very patriotic

"Leighton’s comments have not shown that.  This might upset some Bluebirds’ fans, but I hope Swansea City are promoted this season and I hope Wrexham dig themselves out of the relegation zone.

“Put it this way, when the England rugby team were out of contention in the Six Nations I wanted Wales to win it and I supported them.

“I also want Cardiff Blues to do well, it all raises the profile for Wales and I’m sure that the rugby lads will be watching next Sunday and hoping that we get to the final.”

Jones continued: “Here in Wales you’ve won the Grand Slam, you have Swansea doing well and Joe Calzaghe is world champion – that’s great for the country.

“I’m an Evertonian and when Liverpool were at European cup finals I wanted them to win because they were representing England and Britain.

“To be honest, though, it does not bother us one bit.

“He’s a non-entity – and if he wants to make those comments to my players’ faces I can arrange it!”

Tomorrow's instalment: First Minister Rhodri Morgan gets his two penneth worth in before it is raised in Prime Ministers question time next Thursday.   Keep tuned for more bollocks on the non event.

Photo: Action Images

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