Cardiff City, Town's final game of the season opponents, are embroiled in a cash row with their players. Midfielder Gareth Whalley is at the centre of the dispute over bonus payments.

The former Bradford and Crewe man, a good friend of ex-Blue David Johnson, would be entitled to a £50,000 bonus should he reach 23 appearances.

Whalley reached 22 when the Bluebirds faced Burnley recently at which point chairman Sam Hamman and manager Lennie Lawrence stopped playing him.

When he signed Whalley had been offered the choice of earning his bonus at a rate of £1,000 a match or in through a lump sum and chose the latter. With it now appearing he won't receive a penny, he and the rest of the squad are angry athte club's management.

Former Charlton winger John Robinson spoke out after details of Whalley's £300,000-a-year contract were leaked to the press: "It has been a difficult week for the players and especially for Gareth.

"His contract is private and its details should not be splashed across the back of newspapers.

"Anyone who sees private and personal information — salary, bonuses or anything else — in print for the public to read isn't going to like it.

"What has happened in the last week has upset the club, the players and Gareth Whalley. Gareth has got feelings and he has been put in a position where he doesn't know what to do. Of course all the players are behind him as what has happened to him is wrong."

Cardiff will also not be fielding striker Alan Lee at the weekend as one more appearance would trigger a top-up on the fee paid to Rotherham for his services earlier in the season.

Striker Robert Earnshaw is expected to wear a Cardiff shirt for the last time at Portman Road with a big money transfer likely over the summer.

Town will seal a play-off place should they beat the Bluebirds, although a draw or even a defeat might be enough should several other results go their way.

The first legs of the play-off semi-finals will be played on either Friday, May 14th or Saturday, May 15th with the sides finishing fifth and sixth at home. The second legs are set for Monday, May 17th and Tuesday, May 18th. The final at the Millennium Stadium will be played on Saturday, May 29th.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls