By Ian Hunt

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones has rejected numerous bids for Joe Ledley

Dave Jones fears Cardiff City risk losing Joe Ledley if they fail to win promotion to the Premier League.

The Bluebirds rejected a £6m bid from Premier League side Stoke last summer for the Wales international midfielder.

Cardiff also turned down a January transfer deadline day offer from a top-flight club but Jones may lose Ledley if they remain in the Championship.

"If we don't go up, then someone will probably come to try and tempt Joe away," Jones admits.

The 22-year-old is one of the hottest properties outside the Premier League and has been an inspirational part of Cardiff City's promotion push as the Welsh club sit fifth in the division.

Ledley, who has played more than 200 games for his home-town club, has been consistently linked with Premier League sides such as Stoke, Wigan Athletic, Fulham and West Ham United

If someone comes in and offers £6m or £7m for a player, then that is hard to turn down Cardiff City manager Dave Jones

The 25-times capped Welshman is out of contract at Ninian Park in the summer of 2010 and Jones admits hanging onto Ledley beyond the summer might prove a lot more difficult if Cardiff miss out on their promotion dream.

"We're not forced to sell anyone," Jones told BBC TWO Wales show Sport Wales.

"But you can't have a player who's not happy.

"If someone comes in and offers £6m or £7m for a player, then that is hard to turn down.

"There are not many clubs in all divisions - including the Premier League - who, if the right price comes in, would turn their noses up at that.

"We will only sell if it's right for the football club and right for the player.

"I don't have to seek any assurances from the board or the chairman. It's quite a transparent football club."

606: DEBATE How important is Joe Ledley to Cardiff City?

Ledley will captain the Bluebirds against Doncaster on Saturday as Cardiff hope to consolidate their place in the Championship play-off places.

Cardiff have rarely being out of the play-off places this season and Jones dismissed any notion that they might be discouraged from discussing promotion and the dream of gracing the Premier League.

"We talk about promotion all the time," he said.

"We spoke about it at the start of the season when we looked at what our ambitions were. We talk about where we want to be and what needs to be done to get there.

"That's our target so it's not something we shy away from. It's not as if we don't mention the 'P' word or anything!"

* Sport Wales is on Friday 6 March, BBC TWO Wales, 21:00 GMT

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