Cardiff could look to tempt Neil Warnock out of retirement for one final swansong if the board believe they are genuine relegation candidates, according to reports.
Ashton Gate's pantomime villain called time on his 41-year managerial career in April having last managed Middlesbrough in November 2021 but Bristol City's Severnside rivals are one point behind the Robins and just two above the drop zone with Mark Hudson coming under increasing pressure in the dugout.
Cardiff haven't won in their last seven league matches and have claimed just two victories in their last 13 games. The Mail write how the club could look to persuade Warnock to return to his former club to help steer them away from the bottom three if their poor form continues.
Hudson was only appointed on a full-time basis in November following his spell as interim manager and has picked up just 17 points from his last 16 games. He has a contract until the end of the current campaign.
Warnock took charge of Cardiff in 2016 and guided them to an unlikely promotion in the 2017-18 season. He failed to keep them in the top flight before leaving just over three years later with his final match coming in a loss to City at Ashton Gate.
Upon his retirement, the 74-year-old spoke of his regret that he never had the opportunity to manage Bristol City. He enjoyed a memorable rivalry with the club that stemmed back to 2008 when Jamie McCombe scored a 97th-minute equaliser against his former side Crystal Palace.
There was also no love lost with Gary Johnson following further controversial incidents including Freddie Sears' 'ghost goal' before labelling Lee Johnson an "absolute disgrace" in response to comments made before a game between Bristol City and Warnock's Rotherham.
Following his retirement, when asked about the clubs he would have liked to manage, he told talkSPORT: "There's been one or two. I turned Chelsea down which was a big thing in those days and I should have gone to Sunderland.
"Bristol City has always been one. Even though I've been up against their fans here and there deep down I respect them and that's a big miss for me."
The Bluebirds are currently operating under a transfer embargo due to the club's failure to pay the first instalment of Emiliano Sala's £15million transfer fee. The striker died in a plane crash when travelling from France to join his new club.
After their FA Cup game with Leeds United on Sunday, they have a huge clash against rock-bottom Wigan in the league which could prove the catalyst for the board to make a change in the dugout. City travel to Cardiff on March 4.
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