Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has revealed that approaches were made for manager Mick McCarthy before he put pen-to-paper on a contract extension yesterday.

The experienced Yorkshire man joined the Bluebirds in January, replacing Neil Harris after the club slipped down the Championship table.

Many Cardiff fans weren't exactly enthused when McCarthy arrived, with the former Ireland boss having just come out of a brief spell managing in Cyprus, where he was sacked as manager of APOEL Nicosia after just two months.

Those perceptions quickly faded though as Cardiff went on an unbeaten run - one that they are still on to this very date as the Welsh side have not lost in their last 10 games, winning seven of them.

With the form he had got Cardiff in, it was no surprise to see McCarthy linked to the Celtic job following the departure of Neil Lennon, with Football Insider reporting last week that he was on the shortlist of the Scottish giants.

But any club that now wants McCarthy would have to pay a hefty compensation package for him and assistant Terry Connor, and it looks like the new contract was drawn up to fend off the interest of other clubs, as Bluebirds chairman Dalman explained that McCarthy was indeed a wanted man.

"I know he did (catch the eye of other clubs). I wasn't too worried," Dalman said, per the BBC.

"Yes, approaches were made but it's just nice and refreshing to know there's still some gentlemanly behaviour in the game today.

"When a club rings another club and says 'look, we have an interest in your manager, can we talk to him?' and I said 'no, I don't think that's a good idea because he's here with us and will remain with us' and they say 'okay, thanks very much, we'll respect your decision'. I think that's healthy for the game."

The Verdict

If Cardiff's good form continues until the end of the season, then Cardiff's decision to replace Harris with McCarthy will look like an absolute masterstroke.

No-one expected him to make the impact he has done at the Cardiff City Stadium - he's changed the style and formation of the team and given chances to the likes of Aden Flint, who has grabbed the olive branch with both hands.

Cardiff fans were probably resigned to a mid-table finish about six weeks ago, but they have serious promotion aspirations now and McCarthy could be the man to lead them back into the top flight.