Cardiff head coach Simon King has hit back at comments attributed to him ahead of his side’s defeat to visiting Llandovery last Friday.

This week’s Guardian quoted King as saying he believed the Drovers were “where they belong - near the bottom part of the table.”

Former Aberavon and Pontypridd coach King, who took over the Blue and Blacks last February, has utterly rejected the comments.

“I have never said anything like that,” King told the Guardian.

“I have a huge amount of respect for everyone at Llandovery and the club itself.

“I have been very badly misquoted and anything I might have said has been taken completely out of context.

“I have been in this game for far too long to have come out with a comment like that.”

King said he had previously commented that current league standings reflected performances on the field, but that should in no way be viewed as a criticism of Llandovery as a club.

“I am really big friends with Llandovery coach Lyndon Lewis and the likes of Handel Davies and everyone at the club.

“Lyndon and I previously coached Wales against a Georgia XV back in 2012 and we are good friends.

“There is a great set-up at Llandovery and I have a massive amount of respect for everyone at the club and the work that they have done.”

The Drovers ran out 18-11 victors at the Arms Park.