He was eventually to move to Cardiff City in 2001 for *1*million, and went on to score fifteen times in his first season at the club and help them to promotion the following year when they beat Queens Park Rangers in the Division two play-off final. He scored one of Cardiff's goals as they memorably knocked out then Premiership Leeds United in the FA Cup third round in 2002. During the 2004--05 season Cardiff chairman Sam Hammam revealed that the club was in serious financial trouble and as such a number of players left the club to attempt to regain losses, including Kavanagh who signed for Wigan Athletic for a fee close to *400,000. Whilst at Wigan he started in the 2006 Football League Cup Final.
Sam Hammam
Kavanagh