Cardiff City Boss Set For Fulham Job ?

There is increased speculation amongst fans, media and bookmakers that Cardiff City manager Dave Jones is to be offered the vacant managerial position at Premiership club Fulham after former Spurs boss Martin Jol opted to turn down Craven Cottage and continue in his role at Ajax.

Dave Jones was on an initial shortlist for the Fulham job, but Jol was always first choice. Former Wales International boss Mark Hughes is also a candidate but it is Dave Jones who has emerged as the clear front-runner.

It is fair to say Dave Jones has done a good job at Cardiff City, however, he has always endured a frosty relationship with the South Wales media and Bluebirds fans. Huge successes like Koumas, Loovens, Johnson and Chopra have been counterbalanced by some shocking gaffes, most notably Eddie Johnson, some cheap but pointless acquisitions like Ndumbu-Nsungu, Luigi Glombard and David Forde. Additionally, Jones opted to utilise funds to pay huge wages for the likes of Fowler, Hasselbaink and Sinclair – a move which turned out to be a bitter disappointment.

Jones has always worked on a smallish budget, his bargain buys like McPhail, McNaughton, McCormack, Chopra (first time) and Roger Johnson have been particularly impressive. However, to pay fees like £1m for Mark Hudson, £250k for Taiwo, and the expansive wages for the likes of E Johnson, Etuhu and co does seem an aberration, especially given our well documented financial woes.

All said, Cardiff City fans would not be devastated to lose Dave Jones, but he is an integral part of our club at present, and further de-stabilisation and turmoil is the last thing we want at the moment. Jones has assembled the current squad, and overseen steady progress over recent seasons despite financial constraints. To leave now would represent an untimely departure and heap more uncertainty on the club – especially with the lack of potential replacements and the difficualties in attracting top talent to a club mired in debt and with a transfer embargo currently preventing any squad changes.

The bookies are not always right, but Jones would surely like the option to speak with Fulham. The likelihood of his leaving jumped dramatically when Jol refused the job and Jones could yet leave the CCS in the next few days. Watch this space…