• Premier League

Cardiff's Jones not favourite for West Ham job

Harry Harris, ESPNsoccernet
May 23, 2011
Dave Jones is not the favourite to succeed Avram Grant © Getty Images
Enlarge

Cardiff boss Dave Jones is only an outsider for the West Ham manager's job, despite odds on him taking the Upton Park reins being slashed on Monday.

The Hammers have been searching for a manger since sacking Avram Grant less than an hour after their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed following last Sunday's defeat at Wigan.

Jones, who led Cardiff to the 2008 FA Cup final and has guided them to the Championship play-offs for the past two seasons, was tipped as a leading candidate in some corners of the English press on Monday.

But ESPNsoccernet has been informed by a Hammers source that Martin O'Neill remains top of the club's shortlist, while Sam Allardyce and Chris Hughton are also being considered.

The West Ham hierarchy have drawn up a list of ten potential managers and though Jones is on it, he is not among the leading contenders.

"It is wrong that Dave Jones is the clear No. 1 favourite. No, that is not right," a West Ham insider told ESPNsoccernet. "We have a list of ten potential managers, and Dave Jones would be in the second group rather than the first.

"There is no doubt, though, that he is highly thought of as he got Cardiff to the play-offs two years in a row, and got Wolves promoted."

The Hammers source added that the club were amused that Steve McClaren ruled himself out of the job last week when he had not even been approached.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices