The Hungarian international centre-half left Sixfields late last night in an undisclosed deal believed to be worth £200,000.

The Bluebirds invoked a clause in Gyepes' contract that said any bid from a club at Championship level or above had to be accepted.

Town may now make a bid to bring Wolves defender Mark Little – who was spotted in a hotel very close to Sixfields less than a week ago – back to the club, although it is understood other clubs from Wolves' division are interested in the player on a season-long loan arrangement.

Losing Gyepes will be a blow for Stuart Gray – the Hungarian had been a stand-out performer in the three games he played this season, and was the Cobblers' man of the match at MK Dons on Saturday. But the move also represents a shrewd piece of business, as the transfer fee is all profit on a player picked up on a free transfer eight months ago.

Cardiff had been in the market for a centre-half after selling Glenn Loovens to Celtic for £2.5m on Saturday, and chairman David Cardoza said: "Gabor moves with our thanks and best wishes.

"I think his spell here has worked well for all parties. We knew when he joined us in January that we were signing a quality player, who, if he regained his match fitness and sharpness, had the ability to play at a higher level.

"While with us Gabor did well for us and regained his form and it is no surprise that this has alerted Championship clubs.

"Once Cardiff City offered us a figure that triggered the release clause, we were duty bound to allow Gabor to talk to Cardiff and he has now agreed terms.

"We always knew that he wanted to play in the Championship and the we wish Gabor every success and thank him for his efforts.

"He has been a quality player for us over the last eight months and we thank him for that.
"Our attention now turns to adding to our own squad, and work on that is already well underway."
n GILES COKE was one of several first-team players given a run-out for the reserves in a 1-0 defeat at Southend yesterday.
Coke, Luke Guttridge, Andy Holt, Abdul Osman and Liam Dolman all featured as the stiffs lost to a Matt Harrold strike.
"Overall I was reasonably pleased with the team's performance," said reserve team coach Ian Sampson.
"I felt we dominated the first half without creating too many chances. Ultimately, one lapse in concentration has cost us but full credit to the lads after conceding the goal we came back strongly."