Cardiff City are losing time in preparations for next season as we continue to be managerless after the dismissal of Dave Jones following another late season failure for the Bluebirds.
Any new man coming in will have his own targets and ideas for the futures of current squad members (e.g. Gabor Gyepes, Lee Naylor, Sol Taiwo) meaning that no movement in or out is expected until the new manager is appointed.
Gethin Jenkins and Alan Whiteley are leading the selection process and will submit the top one or two most suitable candidates to our Malaysian investors to ratify the final choice. Out of scores of applications (both serious and tentative), a shortlist was drawn up and several of the candidates have now completed the interview process.
Chris Hughton and Roberto Di Matteo have always been considered favourites, while the likes of Paul Tisdale, Mark Robins and latterly Malky Mackay have all been heavily linked. Even departed Fulham bopss Mark Hughes has been touted, though this would appear fanciful at best. Strong links with Martin O’Neill were explored by the club, but the financial incentives both for managerial and playing squads could not be aligned.
Nevertheless, while no decision has been officially made, the process is drawing to a welcome close and an announcement is expected within days and certainly before the end of the week. The departures of Bothroyd, Burke and loanees like Olofinajana, Koumas etc frees up considerable room on the wage budget for either free transfer signings, or potential loan targets.
Clearly, many fans will have their own favourite as to who is the right manager to realise our perennial Premiership dream, there have been strong pro- and anti- Dave Jones feelings for several years now but whomever is appointed, Cardiff City fans simply must get behind the manager as we look to a close season of major team re-building and a playing season that could go one of many ways.
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