Charlton boss Lee Bowyer has issued a response to reports linking him with Cardiff City manager role following Neil Warnock's departure earlier this week.

Warnock left the club by mutual consent on Monday afternoon following his side's 1-0 defeat to Bristol City over the weekend, and the Bluebirds are already well underway in the search for his replacement with two key names in the frame.

WalesOnline has reported that Bowyer, Neil Harris and one other mystery candidate are in the running for the role, with Harris believed to be the Bluebirds' hierarchy first choice to replace Warnock following his three-year stint at the helm.

However, Bowyer is also believed to be firmly in the running given his excellent work at Charlton over the past year, with the former midfielder guiding the Addicks to promotion last term before seeing his side make a solid start in the second tier this campaign.

Speaking to South London Press, Bowyer has now revealed that he is currently taking a short break in France over the international period, but he has not received any contact from Cardiff regarding the vacancy.

“I’ve had no contact," he said.

“I’m in France at the moment. I don’t like coming to this place! I’ve been here twice now, I was also here in the summer when it all kicked off with Roland. I’ve come here again and my phone has gone crazy again!”

The Verdict

The fact that no contact has been made with Bowyer suggests Cardiff are pursuing other options ahead of the Addicks boss, as Bluebirds chairman Mehmet Dalman previously suggested the club are looking to make a swift appointment.

Bowyer would have been an excellent appointment for Cardiff if they had made serious advances for his services, but it would also have been difficult to lure him away from The Valley, and perhaps the Bluebirds didn't fancy their chances of achieving this.

I think it would take an extremely attractive offer to convince Bowyer to leave Charlton, as he has developed a close affinity with the club and looks capable of achieving further success in South London.