Cardiff's new signing Ross McCormack urges Kris Boyd to join him in Wales

Jun 29 2008 Exclusive by Scott McDermott

SCOTLAND starlet Ross McCormack signed a bumper deal with Cardiff City yesterday then urged Rangers striker Kris Boyd to join him in Wales.

The 21-year-old hitman left Motherwell for the Championship and penned a three-year contract that more than quadruples his salary.

McCormack is delighted with his Bosman move and hopes Cardiff now seal a deal for Gers ace Boyd as well.

He said: "It would be a dream if big Boydie joined me at Cardiff. We already have Robbie Fowler and Stevie Thompson but it would be great to play with Kris.

"He's an excellent player and could move to the Premiership if he decides to leave Rangers. But I know Cardiff are interested and it would be brilliant if he came here."

Boyd is keen to stay at Ibrox and boss Walter Smith wants to keep him.

But MailSport understands the Bluebirds are ready to test Smith's resolve by improving on their failed s2.5million bid.

Ambitious chairman Peter Ridsdale wants to build a side that can mount a push for promotion to the Premiership this season.

He is willing to offer Boyd more money than he's on at Ibrox and McCormack believes Cardiff would be the ideal place for the prolific hitman if he decides to leave.

He said: "From what I've seen of the club this would be one of the best teams in the Championship for him.

"Everything is in place to move the club forward.

"We have our own training centre and a new 30,000 stadium will be ready at the end of the season.

"The chairman is willing to go to huge lengths to get us to the Premiership."

McCormack started his career at Ibrox and will be reunited with former Gers team-mates Gavin Rae and Steven Thompson at Cardiff.

With ex-Aberdeen defender Kevin McNaughton also at Ninian Park there will be plenty of friendly faces when he joins Dave Jones' side for training next week.

Cardiff then head to the Algarve for a friendly tournament and will face up to Celtic - who were also reportedly interested in McCormack.

The former Rangers kid turned down offers from Well, Nottingham Forest and Premiership outfit Wigan to join Cardiff.

He had originally decided to team up with Scots boss Colin Calderwood at Forest after being impressed with his plans for the newly-promoted Championship club.

But when Jones and Ridsdale pushed the boat out to get him, his heart was set on a move to last season's beaten FA Cup finalists.

Motherwell will get around s100,000 in compensation from Cardiff because the player is under 24.

But gaffer Mark McGhee will be gutted at losing his star man after offering to make him the highest-paid player at Fir Park.

McCormack passed a medical late on Friday before completing the deal yesterday morning.

He said: "I'm excited to be joining a big club who are going places. I couldn't turn the move down.

"I was really impressed with everything Colin said at Forest. The Wigan deal was also still on the table so I could have gone to the Premiership.

"But I just felt I'd have more chance of playing regularly at Cardiff.

"After speaking with the manager and chairman my mind was made up."