Kieffer Moore issues emotional farewell message to Cardiff City fans after 'special' time with Bluebirds

Star striker Kieffer Moore has said an emotional farewell to Cardiff City following his move to promotion-chasing Bournemouth.

Moore, the first Bluebird in more than a decade to bang home 20 league goals, insists the switch of clubs 'wasn't easy' despite him handing in a transfer request.

And he says he is relishing a return to Cardiff City Stadium in the spring, when he hopes to fire Wales to the World Cup.

Moore and Co have a play-off semi-final clash with Austria at the home of Welsh football in March, followed by a potential final with one of Scotland or Ukraine.

Posting a message on social media after his departure, Moore wrote: "I'd like to thank the players, fans and staff for making my time at Cardiff City so special.

"It's never easy moving on from a club and city you love, but I've always been a very ambitious person with many goals I'd like to accomplish in my career.

"Looking forward to coming back to the CCS in March."

Moore saw his hopes of Premier League football dashed when a previous Wolves move for him fell through at the 11th hour.

However, he hopes to take Bournemouth into the top flight and will land the Bluebirds extra money if he can get the Cherries promoted.

Cardiff boss Steve Morison said: "We still didn’t want to sell him. We wanted him to turn his form around and be a part of what we're doing.

"He had a contract next year and an option on him, so had him for a good bit of time.

"But he really wanted the move, effectively forced the move in the end with the transfer request. There’s no point keeping people who don’t want to be here.

"We need people who want to be here and want to fight and keep pushing us on. It suited everyone in the end."