BBC-NEWS: Stoke City confirm the return of their legendary former manager to the Championship owing to…..

Former Stoke City boss Mark Hughes backed to return to football at Championship rivals
Cardiff City are looking for a replacement for Erol Bulut and a host of former Stoke managers have been put forward as candidates

Mark Hughes has emerged as the bookies’ favourite to replace Erol Bulut and become new manager at Cardiff City.

Hughes, now aged 60, is waiting for a new challenge after leaving Bradford City in October last year, having guided the club to the League Two play-offs the previous spring. It is now coming up to seven years since he left Stoke City, where he oversaw some of the best football the club has played but also a subsequent unravelling.

He is now priced at 3/1 to get the job, ahead of candidates such as ex-Newport County boss James Rowberry (5/1) and current Kortrijk head coach Freyr Alexandersson (8/1).

But there are a host of other former Stoke managers on the bookies’ shortlist, including boyhood Cardiff fan Nathan Jones (6/1), who has been rebuilding his reputation at Charlton Athletic in League One.

Alex Neil is 12/1 as he continues to search for his next chance as manager since leaving Stoke in December 2023 – and his replacement at Stoke, Steven Schumacher (25/1), who was sacked last week. Gary Rowett is also 25/1 after leaving Millwall in October last year.

WalesOnline report: “There are major positives, not least the squad Bulut has left behind. It’s not a promotion-winning squad, but there’s certainly enough to work with and build on if whoever gets the gig also gets the required help to allow them to flourish. Otherwise we will be in this position ad nauseam until a new ownership structure is implemented.