Former Aston Villa and Norwich City manager Dean Smith is one of a number of candidates being considered for the vacant post at Cardiff City.
We learned this week that ex-Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi and former West Brom boss Valerien Ismael were on the club's shortlist and it now understood Smith is also among those names.
Quite how many people the club have whittled this so-called shortlist down to is as yet unknown. However, Smith, 51, is understood to be one of the many names Cardiff are considering as they plan what they deem to be the right way forward.
READ MORE: Vincent Tan needs to get Cardiff City out of this mess as inaction leaves them staring at relegation
Smith has been out of work since he left his post at Norwich back in December. He recently went to America to visit his son, Jamie, who plays for Greenville Triumph in the USL League One. However he returned to the UK earlier this week.
Smith has always featured near the top of the bookmakers' odds list, now behind only Sam Allardyce and Neil Warnock, both of whom have ruled themselves out of the running in some shape or form.
Smith made his name at Wallsall before enhancing his reputation at Brentford. He then moved on to Aston Villa, where he earned a promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2019.
Smith enjoyed an excellent 2019/20 season at Villa Park, winning the Premier League Manager of the Month award in December 2020 as he steered his side to 11th in the table. However, following five straight defeats the season after, he parted company with the club in November 2021.
Just a week later, he took charge at Carrow Road and was unable to stave off relegation from the Premier League. He was let go from his role in December with Norwich fifth in the Championship table.
At the time it was felt he would want a break from the game, having jumped immediately from Villa to Norwich, and that is a consideration which must be thrashed out. Indeed, like Lamouchi, Ismael and others on Cardiff's radar, whether City can offer him the guarantees he would want is also another consideration.
Either way, Cardiff have to get a move on. Behind the scenes, their recruitment team are toiling away, ploughing ahead with their original recruitment plan to add to the top end of the pitch, with a striker thought to be close and another forward player on the shopping list before next Tuesday's closure of the transfer window.
On the manager front, though, time is of the essence. Someone permanent in the dugout for next Tuesday's game against in-form Luton Town has to be the priority now.
READ NEXT:
Sam Allardyce publicly tells Cardiff City his stance over manager vacancy amid Everton job links
Cardiff City manager search Live as bookmakers' favourite Sam Allardyce speaks out over his future
Cardiff City transfer news as Jordan Hugill closing in on move to relegation rivals Rotherham United
Mark Hudson breaks silence on Cardiff City sacking with classy message to Bluebirds fans
