Cardiff City hope to bring Manchester City star Craig Bellamy back to the club next season.
The Western Mail says Cardiff's search for a new manager is hotting up, but first choice Bellamy looks set to decline the role.
Following the sacking of Dave Jones on Monday after the Bluebirds failed to secure promotion, the club's Malaysian backers had hoped Bellamy might return to the club again this season, but this time in a player-coaching capacity.
But sources say Bellamy, who has no previous coaching experience or coaching qualifications, feels he is not ready to take up such a role.
However, Bellamy is desperate to return to Cardiff as a player next season believing he has unfinished business at his hometown club.