Cardiff City: Matthew Connolly loan a 'business decision' says Slade

Matthew Connolly began his professional career at Arsenal

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade insists defender Matthew Connolly still has a future at the club despite joining Watford on loan until the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old has started 22 games for Cardiff this season.

Slade admits the move does leave him slightly short, but that it was a business rather than a football decision.

"He'll come back, he's still a Cardiff City player," he said.

"It's not for a footballing reason he's gone.

"We don't look like we are going to make the play-offs and it also looks like we are not going to get relegated.

"We're in the middle of the table so a business decision was made for the football club.

"He knows the reasons for it [loan move] to be granted."

Connolly joined Cardiff in August 2012 from Queens Park Rangers having been a member of the team that won the 2010-11 Championship.

He won his second Championship winning medal with Cardiff City in 2013 and joins a Watford side currently on top of the division.

He will be available for the Championship leaders when they face play-off chasing Ipswich on Saturday.

"That was probably the attraction for Watford," Slade said of Connolly's previous promotions with QPR and Cardiff.

"They showed a bit of interest in the January window. He will strengthen their squad in an attempt to get out of the division.

"It's an opportunity for Matt because Watford are flying high at the minute."