Cardiff City have once again been turned down in their hunt for a new manager.
The Bluebirds are scouring the market after sacking both Erol Bulut and Omer Riza this season, with both Turkish managers unable to pick up results in a season which ultimately saw the Welsh club go down. Aaron Ramsey was in interim charge for the final games of their season, and whilst the midfielder is in the running for the job, it is believed he is not a leading option.
Cardiff Approach Long-Term Target
According to reports from Darren Witcoop, City have continued their interest in Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones but have been turned away in their approach. The former Luton Town man has been in the frame at Cardiff for a while, with links emerging as far back as October 2024 when Jones played down links to replace Bulut. Interest re-emerged this week, when Wales Online reported that Jones was one of multiple names considered by Cardiff Chairman Vincent Tan.
Other candidates are also being considered, including former Oxford United boss Des Buckingham, Ruben Selles who is without a club following Hull City‘s surprise sacking of the Spaniard and Rob Edwards, who is also of interest to Middlesbrough and Bristol City. Ex-Bluebirds boss Brian Barry-Murphy is also a possible contender, with his position at Leicester City looking precarious.
However, as reported by Richard Cawley on social media, there is no chance of Jones leaving The Valley in the near future, as they prepare to embark on a season in the Championship following their League One Play-Off Final victory over Leyton Orient.
Writers’ View
Nathan Jones, with his connections as a fan of Cardiff City, is the ideal candidate for the League One-bound club. However, with how well he has done at Charlton, it is near-impossible that The Addicks will sanction him a move to South Wales. They will have to look elsewhere for candidates and out of the names that are currently in the fold, Ruben Selles is the standout candidate. Even in the face of major off-field woes at Reading, he turned them into a playoff-calibre team in the third tier and was undeserving of the sack at Hull City after he saved them from relegation on the final day.
