Cardiff City next manager odds latest as new man installed as favourite

Cardiff City are in their second day of searching for a new manager and already there is some movement among the bookmakers' odds lists.

Installed as the new favourite is Charlton manager Nathan Jones. Blaenrhondda-born Jones made a name for himself by steering Luton Town from League Two to the top end of the Championship, however he struggled at both Stoke City and Southampton.

Back in League One, Cardiff fan Jones has started the season well with Charlton Athletic, who sit in the play-off places after just six games of the season have been played. It would, however, cost money to get him out of his current contract.

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Jones has made his love for Cardiff well known in the past. When asked by WalesOnline in 2022 after a game with Luton about his love for the Bluebirds, he said: "I grew up in the Rhondda valley where all my mates were Cardiff fans. I had the chance to sign for Bristol City or Cardiff City and I signed for Cardiff City.

"I worked on the turnstiles when I was an apprentice and then rushed and watched all the games. All my mates came down and then we would all go back and chat about the games. I love Cardiff City.

"I grew up in the Rhondda and it's either Cardiff or Swansea. There's probably more Cardiff fans in the Rhondda valley than Swansea. I want to see Welsh football do well. I played for Merthyr. I want to see Merthyr do well and Newport. It's better when Wrexham, Newport, Cardiff do well."

Crucially, of course, he said he would not be able to turn down the possibility of managing Cardiff, if offered the chance. "You never know where your career is going to take you," he said. "Here at Cardiff, Steve (Morison) has just come in and implemented something so he will need time.

"But, look, eventually, you never know. It's not something I can sit here now and say, 'Yeah, it's something I really want to do', but, being home in Wales, I love Wales, I am a very proud Welshman, it's a long way in the future but I would never turn that down."

Jones, now priced at 4/1, has usurped recently-sacked Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher (6/1) at the top of the odds list. The 40-year-old left Stoke this month after less than a year in charge, having taken charge of the Potters for just 34 matches since getting the job last December.

Prior to his time in Stoke, he had won a League One title with Plymouth Argyle.

Joint-second on the list is KV Kortrijk manager Freyr Alexandersson. He would represent a cost-effective option given he manages one of Tan's other clubs and he has already told the Bluebirds hierarchy he wants to manage the club one day. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.

Speaking to Fotbolti earlier this summer, amid a delay in handing Bulut a new contract, the 41-year-old said: “Vincent Tan and Ken Choo look after both clubs. It's no secret, and when I spoke to Kortrijk at the time, I also had a conversation with the management of Cardiff that I'm going to train in England. I'm going to be a manager in the Championship or the Premier League.

"There are big dreams and I realise that. It would be great if it was Cardiff, I would love to coach Cardiff at some point."

Alexandersson is seen as a relegation-escape specialist. While Cardiff are by no means at that level yet, having that on your CV given what has come in recent seasons in the Welsh capital is no bad thing. You can read more about him here.

Ex-Preston North End and Sunderland boss Alex Neil is at 8/1 and so, too, is Omer Riza, which is no surprise given the likes of Steve Morison and Mark Hudson have been given the opportunity to step up from interim to head coach in recent years.

Brian Barry-Murphy, the ex-Manchester City academy coach who is looking for his first job in senior football after leaving the Etihad, is a name which frequently appears on these lists and he is installed at 10/1. Given Vincent Tan has a penchant for opting for young, unproven managers, he might be one to keep an eye on.

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Cardiff City next manager odds in full

Nathan Jones 4/1

Steven Schumacher 6/1

Freyr Alexandersson 6/1

Alex Neil 8/1

Omer Riza 8/1

Brian Barry-Murphy 10/1

Nigel Pearson 10/1

Sam Allardyce 12/1

Ryan Lowe 12/1

Rob Page 12/1

Tony Mowbray 14/1

Gareth Ainsworth 16/1

Neil Warnock 16/1

(Odds courtesy of BetVictor. 18+)

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