Bellamy's exit could be start of Premier exodus, says Leeds United boss

The Welsh international this week shunned offers from the top flight to join hometown club Cardiff City on a season-long loan deal.

Subject to the move being approved by the Football League, Bellamy will make his Bluebirds debut tomorrow against Doncaster Rovers.

It is understood Cardiff will pay half of Bellamy's 90,000 per week wages with the rest being covered by City, whose manager Roberto Mancini does not see the striker as part of his plans.

The transfer has caused a huge stir and Grayson, whose Leeds side are due to face Cardiff at Elland Road on October 23, believes Bellamy's example may well be followed by others before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

The United manager said: "Craig made it clear Cardiff was where he wanted to go despite having offers from the Premier League and Celtic.

"His heart has overruled many things. He has always wanted to play for Cardiff and it is a major coup for the club. It shows what Cardiff are trying to achieve.

"I am surprised he has dropped down but you have to applaud him for wanting to play for his hometown team and take them into the Premier League.

"I would have thought there will be more of this. I am sure many would rather go out and play in the Championship rather than not be playing for their Premier League club.

"Do they go shopping on a Saturday afternoon or go somewhere and earn their money?"

Bellamy has become the first high-profile victim of the new Premier League rule that states managers must name a 25-man squad on September 1 that cannot be changed until the next transfer window.

Of those 25, eight must be home-grown and the likelihood is several big name players will fail to make the cut at clubs where squad sizes run into the high 30s.

Asked if Leeds would be hoping to follow Cardiff's example by luring any established Premier League players to Elland Road, Grayson added: "Not if they are on 85-90,000 per week, that is for sure.

"Paying that sort of money took us into administration so we won't be doing that for a long, long time.

"But what I think we will see happening is these players dropping down because Premier League clubs can't use them.

"The 25-man squad rule will free up players and that is why it is important to keep your eye out and stay in touch with your contacts. Hopefully, that way we can attract the right players to come in.

"There would be a certain amount of money we could put towards someone's wages. Anything after that, the (Premier League) clubs will have to bite the bullet.

"Every club who brings in a player will have to do so within their budget. They can't overstretch themselves. That is the case here, the same as it is anywhere else.

"So, if a player is earning five, six, eight, 10 times more than what a club is happy to pay then the (Premier League) club will have to accept that.

"If a player has two years left, he can sit it out if he wants. That can cost the club a lot of money, at least this way they are recouping a little bit."

Concerns have been raised in some quarters that Bellamy's arrival in the Welsh capital could distort the Championship, the bookmakers having already slashed the odds on Dave Jones's side winning the title this season.

Grayson, however, insists the arrival of a striker with 19 international goals to his name should be seen as a positive development.

The Leeds manager said: "It is a challenge to the players in the Championship. If I was playing against a top Premier League performer like Craig Bellamy, I would be trying to make sure he doesn't get the better of me.

"I would be upping my game and making sure he doesn't have a good day at the office. I think that should make teams even keener to beat Cardiff."

Grayson remains keen to bolster his squad, though doesn't expect there to be too much movement until the final week of the transfer window.

A more pressing matter for the United manager is tomorrow's visit of Championship leaders Millwall as he looks to improve a wretched record against the Lions. In the five games since Grayson took charge at Elland Road, Leeds have won just once – a 2-0 win in February, 2009.

Since then, Millwall have won three times and also knocked their Yorkshire rivals out of the League One play-off semi-finals.

Grayson said: "I am not surprised by how well Millwall have started. They came very close to catching us last season and their personnel has not changed much since then."

Leeds welcome back Davide Somma from suspension, but are without Max Gradel, Robert Snodgrass and Billy Paynter.