Cardiff City are stepping up their hunt to find a successor for Sabri Lamouchi, but have played down reports Sol Bamba has been offered the job.
Lamouchi was told he would not be kept on after his current contract finished, meaning City are, once again, searching for a new man to take the reins next season.
Reports from London on Wednesday morning claimed Lamouchi's assistant Bamba had been offered the manager's post. Cardiff, however, have distanced themselves from the reports as their manager search continues.
READ MORE: 'It's been an honour' – Sabri Lamouchi posts classy message to Cardiff City fans after exit
It was significant that Bamba was left out of the club's official statement confirming that Lamouchi would depart the club. Bamba, of course, has a huge affinity with Bluebirds fans and really helped to connect the club and the fans during Lamouchi's short-lived tenure as manager. There is no doubt supporters would want him to stay in some capacity, given his status as a bona fide fan hero in these parts and his astute understanding of the game.
Bamba, who clearly has ambitions of being a manager and has been earmarked by many including Neil Warnock as having a bright future on the touchline, is currently understood to be weighing up his next move.
Cardiff are in dialogue with a number of potential candidates, with Bamba one of the contenders who could potentially be in the mix, with the recruitment process well under way. They are ramping up their bid to find the next manager, with time of the essence and the transfer window rapidly approaching.
Cardiff can ill-afford to start next season behind rival clubs, having narrowly escaped relegation for the second time in as many years.
READ NEXT
Cardiff City new manager search Live
Nathan Jones says he's ready 'to build something' as he's named Cardiff City manager favourite
