Jones a contender as Cardiff hope to name new boss in days

With Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones still in contention, Cardiff City hope to name their new manager this week.

In order to rebuild their position in League One following their relegation from the Championship this year, the Bluebirds are searching for a ninth manager in four years.

Chairman Mehmet Dalman and chief executive Ken Choo have spoken to the candidates and presented their suggestions to owner Vincent Tan, who will have the final say.

Jones has been a hot commodity since Cardiff fired its manager Omer Riza in April, but he would have to pay Charlton a sizable compensation check.

The fact that Jones led the Addicks to promotion to the Championship last month, which means they will start next season with a division above Cardiff, complicates matters even more.

Former Bolton Wanderers bosses Des Buckingham and Ian Evatt, respectively, have been in an interview.

Additionally, Cardiff have discussions with Wales’ Aaron Ramsey, who took over the club’s final three games of the season on a temporary basis, and Leicester City assistant coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

Ruben Selles, who was put forward for the position after Cardiff fired Erol Bulut last year, has decided to stay in the Championship following his recent dismissal by Hull City.

Sources have indicated to Wales’ BBC Sport that some board members would like to see Tan appoint an experienced manager with a proven track record at this level, such as Jones or Buckingham, who led Oxford to promotion from League One last season.

With Ramsey and former Manchester City academy coaches Barry-Murphy still in the running, others would favor a different approach.

Ramsey, whose contract with Cardiff expires this summer, has not yet decided whether he will play next.

The 34-year-old former Arsenal midfielder enjoyed his brief tenure as manager of his boyhood club, where he was assisted, among others, by his ex-Cardiff and Wales team-mate Chris Gunter.

It has been suggested that Cardiff would need to change its structure if they were to choose Ramsey or Barry-Murphy, who both had only managerial experience at Rochdale between 2019 and 2021.