CARDIFF CITY: WHITLEY ADMITS TO DRUG HABIT

Former Northern Ireland international midfielder Jeff Whitley has revealed the extend of a cocaine addiction that marred his time with Championship side Cardiff City.

The 32 year discussed in depth his battle with addiction in an interview with the BBC, "I'd been on humongous benders. It wasn't just alcohol, it was cocaine and a mixture of other drugs."

Whitley says his dependance on the substances increased during his time with Cardiff, so much so that his manager at the time asked him to stay away from the club.

"I remember Dave Jones at one point said to me, 'Jeff don't come in but we'll still pay you'. I never took any other drug apart from alcohol and cigarettes when I was playing at the time. When Dave Jones said that to me I thought, 'I've never tried cocaine, I'd give it a blast', and when I did I thought 'Wow, this is what I'm missing'."

Whitley retired from the game recently after a spell with Evo Stik Northern Premier side Northwich Victoria.