Departing Town defender Gary Croft has made a four-figure donation to the youth set-up at former club Grimsby. Croft, whose permanent move to Cardiff is expected to go through on Monday, heard that the youth system that gave him his chance was in trouble and felt he had to act.

The Blundell Park club need to raise £100,000 to continue their youth development programme into the season ahead, something that spurred Croft into action: "It was too good an opportunity to miss."

"With the current financial climate it was a good way of doing my bit for Grimsby to help keep the youth team going, and make sure this club has a future from the youth system upwards."

Croft started his career with the Mariners as a 16-year-old and became a regular first teamer.

Former manager Brian Laws sold him to Blackburn Rovers in a deal worth £1.7 million in March 1996. He moved on to Town in September 1999.

Croft, who will sign a two-year deal with the Welsh club, is taking a pay-cut to move to Ninian Park but says the Bluebirds have a lot to offer: "I'm in the process of a transfer and although it means stepping down a League, Cardiff is a massive club with lots of potential.

"They've got great ambition and so has the chairman, Sam Hammam. It's an exciting time down there."

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