"Robbie decided to stay in the United Kingdom rather than go to Australia with his family, so that was the first point," said Ridsdale. "Secondly, Dave Jones had been very persuasive. We are building what we think is a very good side at Cardiff.
"We have got a new stadium starting and I think Robbie was attracted to the opportunity hopefully to win a medal going back up into the Premier League rather than perhaps swap Liverpool for a team who might struggle up there in the Premier League.
"We, therefore, were able to persuade him of our ambition and we are absolutely delighted at the catch."