Clear Cardiff City manager favourite emerges after double setback
The Bluebirds are yet to appoint a new permanent manager after sacking Omer Riza nearly two months ago
Buckingham is now the clear favourite to take the Cardiff job
Des Buckingham is now the odds-on favourite to take the Cardiff City job as the end of the club's manager search saga draws nearer.
The Bluebirds are still in the hunt for a permanent successor to Omer Riza since he was dismissed in the closing stages of last season, as the club were relegated to League One. A shortlist, using the help of an external agency, was drawn up for Vincent Tan's consideration, but nearly eight weeks on from Riza's departure and with pre-season getting under way next month, an appointment is yet to be made.
After Nathan Jones signed a new long-term deal with Charlton to end speculation linking him with the Cardiff job, midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who took charge of the team as interim manager for the final three matches of their dismal Championship campaign, looked likely to take up the reins at his boyhood club on a permanent basis.
However, in bombshell news over the weekend, it was reported that Ramsey will now up sticks and move to Mexico to join Liga MX side Pumas, with the Wales legend "ready for a new chapter" across the Atlantic, according to the Press Association transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
An announcement regarding the Bluebirds' new boss was due at the start of the week, but, in the wake of the double setback, that didn't happen. However, there now finally looks to be light at the end of the tunnel with former Oxford United boss Buckingham emerging as the clear favourite for the job.
The 40-year-old is now priced as 8/13 favourite by BetVictor, ahead of Leicester City coach Brian Barry-Murphy (6/5) and ex-Bolton boss Ian Evatt (6/1). Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community
Article continues below
Buckingham, who has been out of work since being sacked by Oxford in December, was riding high in the bookies' odds for the Cardiff job around a month ago and is back in pole position with Jones and Ramsey now off the table.
Having led the Us to League One promotion last year, he was always in the mix for the Bluebirds gig and was involved in the interview process which concluded at the end of last month.
Buckingham has also been linked with the vacant post at Plymouth Argyle, who were also relegated to League One on the final day of the season. However, that job could well go to Barry-Murphy, who is now the bookies' favourite to take over at Home Park.
The Irishman, who is currently a first-team coach at Leicester, is currently evens with BetVictor to take to the Argyle dugout, in what would be his second major role after leaving Rochdale in 2021. Barry-Murphy is ahead of Tom Cleverley, Jack Wilshere and Buckingham in the odds for the Plymouth job, as well as Evatt, who left Bolton in January.
While Cardiff said that a new process to select the next manager made them hopeful of appointing a new boss by the end of May, the process has dragged on with Tan accused of treating fans with "contempt".
In a statement released earlier this week, Cardiff City Supporters Trust described the delay as "intolerable", with fans "concerned and angry" about the situation.
"Time is moving on, critical pre-season decisions need to be made in terms of the squad which cannot happen without a manager," the statement read.
"It is as long ago as 19 April that Omer Riza was relieved of his duties and 3 May was the final game of the season and it is 10 June that this communication is being written with still no sign of an appointment.
"As the ultimate power within the club does Vincent Tan have a sense of urgency? The club may say that there is no reason to panic but it is fair to say that the fanbase view the situation with some concern and anger.
Article continues below
"That fact that there has been a deafening silence from the club has not been helpful... we are led to believe that the current state of inertia/indecision is purely down to the owner [Tan] and... [chief executive] Ken Choo."
It continued: "This situation is intolerable and only serves to demonstrate the contempt the owner holds the fanbase in. We have no idea where we are in the process. Are the experts employed to assist in the job of finding a new manager still in the building? Are they continuing to advise? We hope they are but we just don't know.
"We will continue to liaise with the club to try and urge them to improve communication as fans deserve to be treated better."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Gareth Ainsworth doubles down on Shrewsbury exit as Gillingham revolution takes shape
INTERVIEW: Gareth Ainsworth is relishing "the journey" he has embarked on with Gillingham, who he joined late last season following his shock departure from Shrewsbury Gareth Ainsworth has long been at peace with his shock call to quit Shrewsbury and now he's ready to rock Gillingham's world. The 'Wild Thing' - lead vocalist of The Cold Blooded Hearts - requires no introduction in EFL managerial circles. During 10-and-a-half years at Wycombe, his heavy-metal football yielded exceptional results, propelling Wanderers from the fourth tier of English football into the Championship. And following two short-lived spells in west London (with QPR) and Shropshire, he wants to run it back. Ainsworth said ahead of next week's League Two opener at Accrington Stanley: "I just want my players to feel like they belong to something. When we look at football, we're in a privileged position compared to other walks of life. "Gillingham's identify was getting a little bit muddled up with changes of personnel, both players and managers. We want to bring that identity back, this summer has been a big mental shift of the whole place." Ex-Shrewsbury midfielder Jamie Tolley accused Ainsworth of "promising the world but delivering nothing" when the 52-year-old left the New Meadow for Priestfield in March. But the long-haired gaffer makes no secret of the fact the ambitious pitch from Gillingham's American owners Brad and Shannon Galinson ignited the fire within. Ainsworth certainly knows how to get a place bouncing, his band's latest gig was just a few weeks ago in Soho, and he plans to front an electric Kentish revolution. When asked if he now feels pressure to vindicate his Shrewsbury departure, he said: "No, not at all. "Managers are restricted in what they can say with their contracts, I wish I could have said a lot more. "My justification for coming to Gillingham sits well with me, no problem at all. "I'm on a journey and I bought into the journey at Shrewsbury, I wish it went differently, it was a nice place to live. "People will laugh and say I'm not loyal but you've got the wrong guy, I don't need to prove anything to anyone." Ainsworth was such a coup for Gills, the bookies have them among the favourites for promotion. He isn't buying that, however, adding: "It's flattering but I don't know where the substance in that has come from. We haven't made £1million signings, we've signed three players. "Thank you but we're focusing on the journey, it's a two-year project centred around improving, the next level is way down the line for me." Ainsworth's ranks have been bolstered by the capture of ex-Burnley and Stoke City striker Sam Vokes and he's also optimistic he'll get Bradley Dack fit and firing. He continued: "We should be seen as underdogs, just like we were at Wycombe. Age is irrelevant to me, if you are good enough, you're good enough. If you look at the history of my success, it's come with experience. "Adebayo Akinfenwa, the partnership we had at Wycombe, Craig Mackail-Smith, Nathan Tyson, Marcus Bean, Sam Saunders, Joe Jacobson, Matt Bloomfield, the list is endless. "The owners have brought me in and told me to manage how I want. It was a really good move getting me in early so I could look over the team for the last few games [nine] of the season. "They just want success, they enjoy winning and the thrill of it - so that's what we're going to try and do."
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Barry-Murphy gives updates on Davies and Robertson
Brian Barry-Murphy says Alex Robertson requires stitches to repair the shin injury he sustained during Cardiff City's 2-2 pre-season draw with Notts Robertson was withdrawn midway through the second half of the contest at Meadow Lane having been on the receiving end of a strong challenge by Ollie Norburn."Alex has a really bad gash to his shin. I thought it was a poor tackle at that height, and will require stitching," Barry-Murphy Isaak Davies was also taken off during the game, although Barry-Murphy played down concerns over the Welshman's situation."Isaak felt some tightness in his hamstring, but I don't think it's anything to worry about," said the Cardiff boss."Based on his previous history, our job is to make sure we look after him, whilst obviously we want to push him to fulfil the undoubted potential that he has."The fixture with League Two Notts County was Cardiff's final match prior to their League One opener with Peterborough United in the Welsh capital next Saturday (12:30 BST).Ahead of his debut season at the club, Barry-Murphy said: "I feel very privileged and very optimistic about the season. "The energy from the supporters has been incredible, and their will to see a team play in the way that they want to see Cardiff City represented is evident - I feel as if we've understood that really quickly. "Once we finished the game today you saw the reception that we got from the supporters. "We're looking to have a squad that excites them and makes them want to come to the game on a Saturday."
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Premier Sports Cup: Seven more clubs reach last 16 with final two spots still to be decided
Premiership trio joined in second round by third tier outfit Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Premiership trio Kilmarnock, Livingston and Falkirk all made it through to the second round of the Premier Sports Cup with comfortable home victories on Saturday. Motherwell and Hearts had already booked their places in Sunday's draw along with European qualifiers Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and Dundee United, meaning there were nine spaces still up for grabs going into the final weekend of group stage fixtures. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Killie, Livi and the Bairns were joined in reaching the last 16 by Championship outfits Partick Thistle St Johnstone and Morton, with third tier Alloa Athletic the lowest ranked side to make it through. Partick Thistle's Logan Chalmers (centre) celebrates after scoring to make it 2-0 during a Premier Sports Cup group stage win over Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) | SNS Group Dundee – eliminated after losing their opening two fixtures – are the only top-flight side out of the tournament so far, with St Mirren aiming to progress on Sunday. Dunfermline still have a chance of qualifying as a best placed runner-up but will rely on Saints failing to beat Ayr, who are all but through as long as they do not lose heavily in Paisley. Falkirk sealed top spot in Group A by defeating Spartans 4-0 at home through goals from Dylan Tait, Scott Arfield and a Calvin Miller brace to leave manager John McGlynn in a positive frame of mind ahead of the start of the club's first Premiership season since 2009-10. "The entertainment value is going to be through the roof here," McGlynn predicted. "That's why we've got 5700 season ticket holders - they like what they see. We're now maybe the underdog in most games. I don't think we'll come up against oppositon in the Premiership that will sit so defensively as Spartans." Cove Rangers finished second but were not in the mix to be one of the three best runners-up after losing 2-1 at Queen's Park. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Teenage defender Ben Brannan scored a double and then went off injured as Kilmarnock pipped top-flight rivals Livingston to top spot in Group H with a 4-0 home victory over East Fife. Summer signings Marcus Dackers and Djenairo Daniels were also on target for Stuart Kettlewell's side, who made it through their four group matches without conceding a goal. Kilmarnock's Ben Brannan celebrates after scoring to make it 4-0 over East Fife in the Premier Sports Cup. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group "I thought the players showed up well by and large," Kettlewell said. "My one frustration is there was a little bit of slackness in the last 15 minutes of the game. I know we end up down to 10 men through injury, but it's trying to sustain the levels we've found throughout the game. But it's a work in progress and we'll continue to try and make that better." Livi struck four times in the first half as a 6-0 home win over Kelty Hearts helped them finish as one of the three best runners-up. Robbie Muirhead notched a double, while Andrew Winter, debutant Adam Montgomery, Shane Blaney and Stevie May were also on target. Partick maintained their perfect record to win Group B with a 3-1 victory at Ross County, while Stranraer beat 10-man Queen of the South 1-0 in the other match in the section. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There was drama in Group C as Alloa came from behind to defeat Airdrie 3-2 and secure qualification at the expense of the Diamonds. A 2-2 draw would have been enough to take both teams through, but Steven Buchanan's 89th minute winner meant only the Wasps progressed. In the other match, Dundee saved some face after their humiliating start by making it back-to-back wins with a 5-0 triumph at home to Montrose. Simon Murray hit a first-half double before second-half strikes from Clark Robertson, Ryan Astley and Luke Graham. Dundee's Simon Murray (R) celebrates with Drey Wright after scoring to make it 1-0 over Montrose at Dens Park. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group St Johnstone sealed top spot in Group F with an 8-0 home win over 10-man Elgin, while Raith Rovers beat Inverness 5-1 with Dylan Easton bagging a hat-trick. With Hearts already having finished top of Group E, Dunfermline gave themselves a chance of finishing as one of the three best runners-up as they won 2-0 at home to Stirling. The Pars will go through if St Mirren lose to Ayr or draw and fail to pick up a bonus point. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Morton followed Group G winners Motherwell through as one of the best runners-up after winning 3-0 at home to Clyde, while Stenhousemuir beat Peterhead 1-0. In Group D, where Arbroath went down 1-0 to Forfar, Ayr will be looking to hold on to top spot away to St Mirren on Sunday. The Honest Men have such a good goal difference that they will go through as long as they do not lose heavily.
