'Cardiff don't have to sell best players' - Dalman

Cardiff paid an undisclosed fee - thought to be between £3m and £4m - for Yousef Salech

Cardiff City are under no financial pressure to sell players following their relegation, but will reduce the size of their squad in League One, says chairman Mehmet Dalman.

As they prepare to play in the third tier for the first time since 2003, the Bluebirds are looking for a ninth manager in four years after a turbulent campaign in which they finished bottom of the Championship.

Dalman is confident Cardiff will keep the "core" of their team together but anticipates that several players out of contract this summer will leave.

Forward Yakou Meite and centre-back Dimitrios Goutas are among those with deals expiring who will be expected to depart, while Wales captain Aaron Ramsey has yet to decide on his future having been caretaker manager for the final three games of the season.

"We have 33 players on our books and that's quite a lot. I think that needs to be cut back to more like 25 or 26," said Dalman.

"Out of the eight who are out of contract, we would probably lose six, maybe five. There may be a couple that we still want to have conversations with. That will bring us to a sensible number.

"We probably need to add three or four players into the team. And don't forget we've got some of the brightest, most promising youngsters coming through the academy."

Club captain Joe Ralls, Anwar El Ghazi, Andy Rinomhota and Jamilu Collins are the other senior players out of contract.

Left-back Collins is certain to leave, while former Aston Villa winger El Ghazi is unlikely to stay in League One.

Cardiff will hold talks with midfielder Ralls, their longest serving player, and they will be keen to keep Rinomhota after he impressed in defence and midfield during the last campaign.

Top scorer Callum Robinson signed a new deal in January but, as a Republic of Ireland international with Premier League experience, the 30-year-old is bound to attract offers from other clubs.

Cardiff are also bracing themselves for interest in striker Yousef Salech, who scored nine goals in all competitions following his January move from Swedish side Sirius.

However, when he was asked if the financial impact of relegation meant the Bluebirds would have to sell their leading players, Dalman said: "That's not in our plans. We will sell players if somebody comes up with an attractive offer.

"We would consider it, but that's true of every season at any given time. That is nothing to do with our circumstances.

"We are very determined to keep the core of the team together, and the feedback we are getting from the core of the team is to stay together. I'm sure there'll be a few who will not fancy staying in League One. We will respect that, although we will expect them to respect their contracts as well."

Dalman revealed this week that Cardiff would be trialling a new process to find their next manager, by assembling a sub-committee – featuring former Swansea City sporting director Mark Allen and a member of the Wasserman agency – to compile a shortlist.

Some have tipped Ramsey to take the role on a full-time basis after his temporary spell in charge but, with the 34-year-old midfielder keen to keep playing, his future remains uncertain.

"Aaron is a wonderful chap. I got to know him quite well over the last couple of years and we will sit down with Aaron and have a chat," said Dalman.

"Aaron is through and through Cardiff and, whatever we discuss, it'll be good for Cardiff and it'll be good for Aaron."