Cardiff City has had two key setbacks in its search for Omer Riza’s successor.
Des Buckingham has been named the new frontrunner for the Cardiff City job.
The Bluebirds have suffered two huge defeats in their search for a new manager in the last three days; on Friday, Nathan Jones signed a new long-term contract with Championship club Charlton, putting any rumours linking him with the role to rest.
Second, on Sunday, it was revealed that Aaron Ramsey will not be taking over at his hometown club, but will instead relocate to Mexico to join the Guadalajara-based Pumas in order to extend his career.
On Saturday evening, reports emerged from the other side of the Atlantic that Ramsey had gone into “advanced talks” with the Mexican side.
Andres Vaca, a TV reporter, told the Seleccione2 podcast, “I don’t know if they’re selling me smoke; they just told me Aaron Ramsey is going to join Pumas.” “They told me it’s almost a confirmation.”
On Sunday morning, the Press Association reported the links in considerably stronger terms, claiming the 34-year-old had reached an agreement. Transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano confirmed this, adding: “Aaron Ramsey will sign in as new Pumas player in the next days, ready for a new chapter in Mexico.”
It puts Cardiff’s search for a new manager in jeopardy; an announcement was scheduled for early next week, but whether that will now happen remains to be seen.
Buckingham, the former Oxford United manager, has always been in the running and participated in the interview process, which completed at the end of last month.
An external agency assisted in creating a shortlist, which was subsequently submitted to Malaysia for Vincent Tan’s ultimate judgement.
To put it mildly, things haven’t gone as planned since then. With Jones and Ramsey out, former contenders are back on the agenda.
Buckingham, 40, is the bookmakers’ favourite (1/1), ahead of Leicester City coach Brian Barry-Murphy (6/4) and former Bolton manager Ian Evatt (10/3).
Buckingham was leading the bookmakers’ odds for the post about a month ago. He was fired by Oxford last December and has been out of job since. He led the U’s to promotion from League One last year.
Buckingham is also thought to be vying for the empty position at Plymouth Argyle.
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