Bellamy linked with vacancies

CRAIG Bellamy has been linked with the vacant managers’ jobs at Oxford United and Bradford City.

The Cardiff City youth guru is seemingly stepping up his quest to delve into first team management and is the 8/13 favourite with bookmakers to succeed former Swansea City assistant Pep Clotet at Oxford.

Bellamy and Paul Ince have both expressed an interest to take over at Valley Parade, according to reports in local media, while the Welshman is facing a duel with former Everton caretaker boss David Unsworth for the Oxford role.

Clotet, who worked closely with Garry Monk at both Swansea and Leeds United, received his marching orders at the Kassam Stadium after a 2-1 home defeat to relegation strugglers Bury.

It ended a six-month stint for Clotet at Oxford.

A number of managers — including Simon Grayson, Mark Warburton and even Frank Lampard — have since been touted for the role.

But it seems Bellamy is now a hot favourite, leading Unsworth in the betting stakes. He is also named in the running to succeed Stuart McCall at Bradford City after the Bantams’ legend was sacked following a run of five consecutive league defeats.

The Bantams sit sixth in League One, with Oxford 10th, so Bellamy could potentially find himself in a third tier play-off tussle should he be given either job.

The former Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester City striker was pipped to the Wales post by former international teammate Ryan Giggs last month.

He was said to have given a ‘Hollywood interview’, impressing with his vision for Welsh football, but the FAW went for former United assistant Giggs.

On being beaten to the Wales role he coveted, Bellamy said in January: “I know there’s been a mixed reception back home (to Giggs’ appointment) but it’s done now.

“We have to qualify for the next tournament and the best chance we’ve got of doing that, is with the support behind Ryan”.