BLUEBIRDS TARGET WARNOCK
NEIL WARNOCK is the man Cardiff City want to save their season after Paul Trollope became the second manager of a Welsh club to lose his job in a dramatic 24 hours.
Just a day after Swansea City relieved Francesco Guidolin of his duties and replaced him with American Bob Bradley, the Bluebirds dismissed Trollope following a dismal start to their Championship campaign.
Cardiff have won just two of their 11 league games under Trollope and have slumped to 23rd in the table, prompting club chiefs to act.
In a statement, the club said: “Cardiff City Football Club can confirm that Paul Trollope’s contract has been terminated with immediate effect.
“We’d like to thank Paul for his efforts and wish him the very best of luck for the future.
“Assistant coach Lennie Lawrence and performance director Ryland Morgans have also left the club with our best wishes.
“An announcement regarding Paul’s successor will be made in due course.”
And that successor could be Warnock, who is without a club after guiding Rotherham to Championship safety last season.
Reports have suggested Cardiff will talk to the 67-year-old over the next 24 hours about the vacancy, with bookmakers shortening his odds dramatically in the wake of Trollope’s axing.
Warnock was quoted at 1/10, with former Wales international teammates Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy next on 5/1 and 9/1 respectively. Other names on SkyBet included Cheltenham’s Gary Johnson, former Leeds chief Steve Evans and exAston Villa boss Tim Sherwood.
But it appears Warnock is the man wanted, with his pedigree in football’s second tier proven, having guided both Sheffield United and QPR to promotion as well as last season’s rescue job with the Millers.
On the top of that, his vast experience with the likes of Crystal Palace and Leeds over the course of more than 1,000 matches has seen him at the forefront of Cardiff’s search to replace Trollope.
Trollope’s future with the Bluebirds had been in doubt since a 2-0 defeat against Leeds left him with, in effect, three games to save his job.
After a comeback win over Rotherham, 2-0 defeats against Derby and Burton saw fans’ discontent reach a crescendo and owner Vincent Tan decide to act.
Meanwhile, Swansea’s new manager Bradley has spoken of his pride at becoming the first American to manager in the Premier League.
Bradley, who will take over a Swans side lying 17th in the table after one win in seven matches, said: “To go to the Premier League is special.
“It’s still an opportunity for me, for my family and for American football. That’s important.”
Football: Pages 41-43