" Latest on the new Cardiff City manager / Selles linked "

Ruben Selles being linked with the job, but Bilic looks unlikely.




Cardiff City enter the second international break of the season without a manager and bottom of the table. Nevertheless, the job remains an extremely attractive one, with no shortage of candidates or applications over the last fortnight.

The last two weeks has seen Cardiff up their points tally sixfold, earning their first win of the season over Millwall as well as a draw, which could easily have been another victory, at Bristol City in the derby over the weekend.

There's no doubt that the shadow of Erol Bulut looms large at Cardiff, though. Having signed a new two-year deal with the club in the summer, it was hoped that the Bluebirds' direction of travel for the next couple of years was sewn up. To have to sack him after six games, which everyone agreed had to be the course of action after the worst start in the club's history, has left a slightly flat feeling around the place.

On the other hand, there is a real sense within that this club, with a core of good young players, can go places under the right leadership. And with a huge portion of the season to go, the Bluebirds want to make some real headway in the months to come.

Cardiff's top brass have spent the last fortnight poring over a longlist of candidates, with another meeting between those at the top expected in the next 24 hours or so, and a number of names have been discussed, one of whom is Ruben Selles.

The Reading boss has gained plaudits for his style of play and the manner in which he has handled the tumultuous period in Berkshire pertaining to the club's ownership, managing to keep the club in League One and keeping them competitive this season amid a number of massive issues behind the scenes.

The 41-year-old succeeded Nathan Jones at Southampton in the Premier League in February 2023 but was not kept on for the following season, after the Saints suffered relegation, and instead he took up the role with the Royals.

But recently there have been cracks and grievances on Selles' part borne of frustration relating to the ownership saga in Reading. Just a fortnight ago he said he had "had enough of the situation", adding: "All the bad situations that can happen in football have happened to me in the last 16 months. I’m not a person that likes to quit but I do need to reflect on where could be the ending point because I’m not happy with everything that’s happened."

He will certainly form a chunky segment of the hierarchy's discussions.

Bookmakers' favourite Slaven Bilic also has his share of admirers at Cardiff. Many at the club believe the Bluebirds have always needed an experienced, steady hand at the tiller. Those who like Bilic are also those who are of the firm belief that it takes a big personality and someone comfortable in their own skin to succeed at the Welsh capital city club.

Previous managers like Dave Jones, Malky Mackay and Neil Warnock are testament to that. There was also great hope that Mick McCarthy would be a success for similar reasons and though the early signs were good — he went unbeaten in his first 11 games in the Cardiff dugout — it went catastrophically bad for the former Republic of Ireland manager in his first full season in charge.

Bilic won promotion to the Premier League with West Brom and has managed in the top flight with West Ham, but has been out of work since leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Fateh back in August this year. However, following talks this week, it is understood that it is increasingly unlikely that the 56-year-old, who is back home in his native Croatia, will take the job.

Other names who have been touted are former Plymouth Argyle duo Steven Schumacher and Ryan Lowe. Their stocks are both relatively high given the works they did with the Pilgrims, while Schumacher looked to be making decent strides with Stoke City before he was sacked last month after just nine months in charge.

Lowe, meanwhile, did a fantastic job at Preston North End and enjoyed a decent period at the top of the table with them at the beginning of last season. But the Liverpudlian left Deepdale this summer by mutual consent. Schumacher looks unlikely at this stage but there has been no noise either way, at the time of writing, on Lowe. Michael Beale, another one fancied by the bookies, is also in the same category as Lowe.

The familiar names among the bookmakers' odds list of Sam Allardyce, Mark Hughes, Tony Pulis and even Neil Warnock have also all been ruled out. Nathan Jones, who is tied to a long-term deal at Charlton Athletic, is also not thought to be under consideration.

There is, of course, the incumbent manager, albeit in an interim capacity, in Omer Riza. Cardiff are pleased with the improvement they have seen in the last three games under Riza and are grateful it has bought them some more time to make a more considered decision.

The prospect of Riza staying on beyond this international break has not been ruled out entirely at this stage. Riza himself has made no secret of his desire to take the job permanently, believing he has the requisite experience to take on a head coach job in the Championship.

Cardiff have previous for handing young or relatively inexperienced coaches the job, however the likes of Mark Hudson, Steve Morison and Paul Trollope in recent times all turned out to be poor choices. That's not to say Riza couldn't make a decent fist of it and credit has to be given to him for the way the team has played in the last two matches in particular – but the consensus among supporters does tend to lean towards wanting an experienced head to take on a difficult, if very appealing, job.

There have been some left-field names thrown into the mix at points, too. Given the success of ex-Manchester United players Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town), Tom Cleverley (Watford) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (PSV Eindhoven), John O'Shea's name has been mentioned in dispatches. Gary O'Neil's assistant at Wolves, Shaun Derry, is another. But perhaps the above consideration doesn't help either of their causes.

It's a situation that looks to be gathering pace this week, anyway, with talks between the hierarchy and preferred candidates continuing.

Reading have just entered into exclusivity negotiations with a buyer that could scupper any moves for him.

Reading have just entered into exclusivity negotiations with a buyer that could scupper any moves for him.

Doubt it would make any difference.

If he wanted the move, it would still happen.

Mowbray for me would be the wise old head /experienced candidate .Always tries to play attractive football and would suit the squad we have .I would keep Riza on as coach as I believe he would learn a lot from him and keep some continuity .Hopefully Mowbrays health has improved enough to have the energy required for this challenge .If it did work out well then we may have some succession in place with Riza taking over in the future

Reading have just entered into exclusivity negotiations with a buyer that could scupper any moves for him.

Doubt it would make any difference.

If he wanted the move, it would still happen.

Would club go for anyone at another club with so many decent unemployed managers available? But decision should been made after wkend as no secret looking for a coach and riza new the score....hopefully do it before this weekend

Reading that I would say Glen Williams hasn’t got a clue what is happening ?

The only thing I have taken from it is that Saven Bilic is probably not in the running after all.

Reading that I would say Glen Williams hasn’t got a clue what is happening ?

The only thing I have taken from it is that Saven Bilic is probably not in the running after all.

Wouldn't disagree with that, although Selles' name has been doing the rounds on social media and this suggests a decision will be made one way or the other in the next 24 hours.

But you're right, it seems that Williams was told he needed to write an update so he's written an article without really saying anything.

His appointment if it happens does'nt inspire me thats probably because i don' t know much about him but you hear of good managers even in the lower divisions.
We have to get this right this time and rookie managers are a gamble,
but will go with the flow but slaven billic would have been my choice if i had one.

Given reading are in a hell of a state he’s doing a decent job there

Reading are playing tonight so it will be interesting to see if Selles is asked about this after the game.

Doing a decent job with Reading but his time at Southampton wasn't very good.

That being said, Southampton were in the shit.

Doing a decent job with Reading but his time at Southampton wasn't very good.

That being said, Southampton were in the shit.

Don't think anyone would have done a good job with Southampton with the mess Nathan Jones left them in.

Given reading are in a hell of a state he’s doing a decent job there

As is/was Mark Bowen in the role of DoF…!

Another day and another new name linked ...More to come during this International break

Another day and another new name linked ...More to come during this International break

Starting to drag on again now isn't it. I know they've got to get this appointment right but they do like to prolong the agony.

It's the perfect time for someone to come in now and take the next 2 weeks (with the pressure off) to really get to know the club, train with the fringe players, start properly planning for the games ahead. But no.

I'm starting to get that sneaky suspicion that this long wait will just end up being another anti climax.

Come on Vinny boy, don't listen to Dalman, make the decision and let's get going!!!

We ll end up with some bod no ones heard of who's cheap and doesn't want money for new players being so cheerful keeps me going lol

I have a horrible feeling he is going to give to Riza..if he does I fear we will be relegated

Just get on and appoint a experienced championship manager ASAP