New favourite emerges for Cardiff City manager job as shortlist drawn up
The Bluebirds are looking for a new manager ahead of their League One campaign
Former Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt
(Image: Getty Images )
A new name for the Cardiff City manager has shot to the top of the bookmakers' odds list in the form of former Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt.
The former defender, 43, transitioned from a successful playing career to management, making significant impacts at both Barrow and Bolton. Evatt began his managerial journey with Barrow in 2018, leading them to promotion to the English Football League in the 2019/20 season — the club's first in 48 years. His attacking philosophy earned the team the nickname "Barrowcelona."
In July 2020, Evatt took the helm at Bolton, then struggling in League Two and secured automatic promotion in his first season.
Under his guidance, Bolton won the EFL Trophy in 2023 with a 4–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Wembley. He also led the team to the League One play-off final in the 2023/24 season. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community
Over his tenure at Bolton, Evatt managed 261 games, achieving 132 wins, 52 draws, and 77 losses — a win rate of approximately 50%. His tenure concluded in January 2025 following a series of underwhelming performances.
Cardiff are currently deep in the process of hiring a new manager. Chairman Mehmet Dalman last week hoped they would have a new man in place by the end of the month.
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Indeed, Dalman hoped that he and the board would have a shortlist by this week and it is understood around 10 names have been placed on that list for interview and board consideration.
Sources have also claimed that owner Vincent Tan has now steered away from a desire to appoint young, unproven managers after the catastrophic relegation suffered on Omer Riza's watch last season. Of course, the early-season disaster under Erol Bulut should not be wholly discounted in that.
However it seems that there is now a necessary criteria of previous managerial experience, preferably in English football, and ideally a promotion on the CV of any would-be City manager.
The shortlist has been drawn up by a subcommittee comprising Gavin Chesterfield, the head of the academy, Mark Allen, former Swansea and Rangers sporting director, and a representative from Wasserman, the sporting agency tasked with helping to lead this search.
It is understood more than one candidate has already been spoken to as the board begin their interview process before presenting their final recommendation to the owner.
Evatt's name tops the bookies' odds above former Oxford United manager Des Buckingham, who oversaw the U's promotion from League One a year ago. Steven Gerrard also shot up the list after supporters cottoned on to him being a Wasserman client and having worked with Allen at Rangers and Saudi club Al Ettifaq recently.
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Aaron Ramsey remains at 16/1 and might be an outlier in terms of convincing Tan that an unproven manager can handle the job. However, should Ramsey continue playing, as he has reiterated his desire to do, then it would likely rule him out of contention. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Cardiff City next manager odds:
Ian Evatt 1/1
Des Buckingham 4/1
Steven Gerrard 5/1
Aaron Ramsey 16/1
Michael Beale 16/1
Tommy Elphick 16/1
Stephen Bradley 20/1
Ruben Selles 20/1
Gary O'Neil 20/1
Nathan Jones 20/1
Rob Edwards 25/1
Karl Robinson 25/1
(Odds courtesy of talkSPORT BET. 18+)
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