DARREN Peacock is a target for big-spending Cardiff City.

The out-of-favour Rovers defender held preliminary talks with Cardiff boss Bobby Gould after the reserves fixture with Everton last night.

Gould has money to spend at Ninian Park as former Wimbledon chief Sam Hamman prepares to take over.

And that could prevent the kind of wages hurdle which has scuppered other interest in Peacock from the likes of Portsmouth.

Manager Graeme Souness said: "We have given Darren permission to talk to Cardiff but that is as far as it goes."

Chief executive John Williams added: "There has been quite a bit of interest in Darren because people see him as a good honest pro who can do a job. We won't stand in his way."

Peacock started his career down the road from Cardiff at Newport County and is Bristol-born.

So, with little chance of featuring in Souness's plans, a move to the Third Division giants might prove attractive.