Tony Sheridan joins the ever-growing band of Irishmen at Ninian Park as Cardiff offer the former Shelbourne star a one-year contract today.

Sheridan joins Kevin Nugent, Willie Boland and summer signing David Greene at the Welsh club as they try to win promotion from Division Three.

Sam Hammam has bought Cardiff and has appointed former Wimbledon boss Bobby Gould as manager. Gould has first-hand experience of Sheridan after managing the player at Coventry.

When he found out that the 25-year-old was looking for a new club he invited him to travel to Cardiff for a trial. After being there two weeks he has proved his fitness and Gould had no hesitation in offering him a contract.

"Bobby offered me a one-year deal on the day I arrived but wanted to see what sort of shape I was in," said Sheridan. "He knows what I can do as a player from the time we spent together at Coventry City. Once he realised my fitness was up to scratch, he was pleased to offer me a deal."

Sheridan spent a successful 14 months at Portadown but felt he needed a new challenge so he made it known south of the border that he was in the market for a new club.

Nobody made him an offer so he was about to sign a new deal with Portadown before Gould offered him a trial and ultimately a contract.

He could be after getting in on the ground floor of a footballing revolution: Gould and Hammam were the driving forces behind Wimbledon's magnificent success, so there is no reason why they cannot repeat the story at Ninian Park.