How leading contenders for Bluebirds job measure up

CARDIFF City have narrowed their long list of names to replace Neil Warnock down to just two: Neil Harris and Lee Bowyer.

The Bluebirds are hoping to appoint their next manager within the next few days and are keen to get a full week of training in with the new manager before their next game with Charlton after the international break.

Here, we assess the two candidates and just what the Bluebirds can expect from each of them... then, that the squad would be able to adapt more easily. The 42-year-old former striker earned much praise for his four years in management at The Den.

He guided the Lions to promotion to the Championship from League One and also enjoyed an FA Cup run to the quarter-finals back in the 2016/17 season, knocking out three Premier League sides – Bournemouth, Watford and then champions Leicester City – en route.

Now the dust has settled following his departure last month, Millwall think fondly of Harris’ time at the club and he is a bona fide legend there, also helped by his status as the club’s highest-ever scorer during his playing days.

Managerial record

Matches: 236

Won: 101

Drawn: 59

Lost: 76

Win record: 42.8% Preferred formation: 4-4-2

What he’s said

After leaving Millwall, Harris said: “It is not a decision made with haste. However, I believe it to be the right decision at the right time, not only for the club, but for me.

“I truly believe that I leave the club in a very healthy position in terms of infrastructure, staffing and playing squad which gives a new manager a platform to continue the club’s development.

“During the last four and a half years as manager, there have been some incredible successes for our club, including two Wembley play-off finals, a promotion back to the Championship, two FA Cup quarterfinals and, now, relative stability in the second tier of England’s very competitive league structure.

“I look forward to coming back to The Den to see so many good friends in future.”