Neil Warnock has claimed he had talks with Nottingham Forest in October 2016 before joining Cardiff City.
The eight-time promotion winner was last in work with the Bluebirds having led them to promotion to the Premier League in 2018.
However, Cardiff were unable to stave off relegation and Warnock left the club in November 2019 with the club mid-table in the Championship.
Warnock joined Cardiff in 2016 after leaving Rotherham United the previous summer, despite keeping in them in the Championship by a minor miracle.
At the time, Forest were four months into Philippe Montanier's ill-fated tenure, which ended just a few months later, in January.
Now, Warnock has revealed he held talks with the club, as well as Derby County and Blackburn Rovers before joining Cardiff.
"I knew I had to have a chance, another go at promotion, that eighth promotion," Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I didn't get another job until October with Cardiff, it was a gamble. I knew I'd be staying at Rotherham for the wrong reasons, the money.
"That whet my appetite for the Cardiff job. I had a few interviews at a couple of places like Derby, Blackburn and I spoke to Forest but Cardiff just seemed right."
