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Wales Online
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Tom Coleman

Everything we know about Cardiff City's managerial search so far as Bluebirds ponder Steve Morison return

For the third time in eight months, Cardiff City are on the hunt for a new manager.

Sabri Lamouchi's departure from the club may well have taken some by surprise given he delivered on his brief to keep the Bluebirds in the Championship, but ultimately he failed to do enough to convince Vincent Tan that he was the right man to take the club forward into next season.

Attention now turns to who will step in and lead the Bluebirds into the coming campaign, with the search already well underway. And, as always with Cardiff City, the speculation of recent days has been frenzied.

READ MORE: Cardiff City insist 'no-one has been offered manager's job' as hunt continues for right man

Nathan Jones was the early favourite with the bookies, perhaps for obviously reasons given his affinity with City. Indeed, he's mentioned in the past that the chance to take over at Cardiff City Stadium is one he couldn't turn down.

His name remains among the touted runners and riders, although it's not entirely clear if he's a real contender at this stage, with the club understood to be interviewing a number of candidates.

Chairman Mehmet Dalman has already told WalesOnline that the search is continuing, despite some corners of the media going big on the prospects of Lamouchi's number two Sol Bamba.

Bamba has certainly held ambitions of one day taking over as Bluebirds boss, and there were suggestions from several outlets that he was ready to accept an opportunity to do just that.

However, in reality, the situation is more complicated than that. Bamba might be in the mix, but there doesn't appear to be a decision on anyone yet at this stage, and suggestions of him being on the verge of taking over are ridiculously premature.

His knowledge of the club, affinity for the fans, and his contacts book certainly makes him a strong candidate, but there are others that have also caught Tan's eye.

One of those, incredibly, is believed to be former boss Steve Morison. Just eight months after he was dismissed as City boss, a decision that divided many fans, it's our understanding that he's now a real contender for the job.

A sensational return would likely leave the club open to a whole raft of questions regarding their overall planning and direction. The obvious question is what does Tan see now that he perhaps didn't back in September?

We've also had Supporters Trust chair Keith Morgan, concerned about the speculation, calling for Tan to appoint 'a credible manager'. That will pile on the pressure, the Trust somewhat surprised by the departure of Lamouchi.

It's important to stress there a number of other names in the frame that are yet to emerge publicly, with Cardiff clearly keen to explore as many options as possible.

Certainly, there is an overriding feeling that Cardiff need to get this next appointment right, with Tan understandably having little appetite for another relegation fight next season.

Cardiff would ideally like to make a decision one way or the other in the coming days, particularly with the transfer window and pre-season looming.

After getting it wrong so often in the past, Cardiff have to ensure they get this call right.

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