Cardiff to take Doherty on three-season deal

Republic of Ireland international Gary Doherty is to go to Cardiff City for talks and a medical after City and Spurs agreed a…

Republic of Ireland international Gary Doherty is to go to Cardiff City for talks and a medical after City and Spurs agreed a fee for his transfer.

Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence has trailed 19-times capped Carndonagh-born Doherty since last March and initially offered £600,000 sterling for a man he sold to Tottenham in a £1.2 million deal while Luton chief three years ago.

Doherty has always struggled to make an impression at White Hart Lane due to injuries and competition for places. Anthony Gardner, Stephen Carr, Dean Richards and Ledley King have all blocked his progress.

He will sign a three-season contract at Cardiff, making him available for his new club's away trip to Walsall on Saturday.

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Lawrence said last night: "I see Gary as a two-in-one player. He is primarily a central defender who is a more-than-useful presence up front. I've known the lad since he was a kid and I'm very aware he wants to wear Cardiff City's shirt."

Tottenham were believed to have offered Doherty as a makeweight in the deal that saw Freddie Kanoute leave West Ham for them in a £3.5 million deal recently - Matthew Etherington was eventually used to balance the transfer.

Doherty would take Cardiff's potential summer spending to £2.65 million - Rotherham striker Alan Lee arrived in a £1.2 million move, and QPR winger Richard Langley for £450,000.

Former Charlton midfielder John Robinson landed in July and Australian Tony Vidmar on a free a short time after that from Middlesbrough.

And Lawrence observed, "I think Sam Hammam has certainly backed me in the transfer market."