Cardiff concentrate on 'one target' for manager says Mehmet Dalman

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman says he has one candidate in mind for manager after the club sacked Malky Mackay on Friday.

Dalman has stayed coy on his preferred choice but wants an appointment soon.

Former Manchester United and Norway striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, currently in charge of Molde, is thought to be Cardiff's preferred choice.

"I only have one target. That doesn't mean we to say we aren't speaking to more than one," Dalman said.

"The board has given me the mandate to go and find a new manager and I'm at work looking for one.

"There's been good progress so far but it's early days, these things always take time - longer than most people think."

On the subject of Solskjaer, Dalman would only say: "I wouldn't say I know him well but we have spoken in the past, yes."

The only definite from Dalman has been to rule out Yilmaz Vural, the Turkish coach who was last in charge of Elazıgspor and has been linked with Cardiff in some media reports.

"I'm not getting a Turkish manager... there's some Turkish football manager who just seems to want to push himself forward as a prospective manager of Cardiff. It's not going to happen," Dalman confirmed.

"I have never met the guy, in fact I never heard of him until this incident. He's definitely ruled out."

Dalman hopes to have someone appointed before Cardiff's FA Cup third-round tie at Newcastle United on 4 January.

Until then David Kerslake, previously Mackay's assistant who has ruled himself out as a permanent replacement, will continue as caretaker manager after overseeing Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Sunderland, with their next game away to Arsenal on New Year's Day.

Jordon Mutch and Fraizer Campbell struck to put Cardiff 2-0 ahead against Sunderland, a lead they held until the 83rd minute when Steven Fletcher pulled a goal back for the visitors before Jack Colback's last-gasp shot earned them a point.

"Total heart-break," admitted Dalman. "We played so well but that last five minutes and extra time... it was very disappointing at the end.

"But well done to the boys, they put their heart and soul into it and well done to David managing the team and his crew, my thanks to them."