Swansea City and newly promoted teams fancied over Cardiff City next season

Cardiff City are not fancied by the bookmakers ahead of next season. The Bluebirds may have secured a top-half finish in the Championship season just gone, but they are not expected to kick on, at least not as things stand.

Most bookmakers currently have Cardiff below Swansea City, and even below newly promoted Portsmouth and Derby County in the odds for promotion. City are at 12/1 with a number of oddsmakers, which is a little baffling given last season’s efforts.

On the other hand, the prices may well reflect the uncertainty over Erol Bulut’s future at the club. If Bulut does move on, Cardiff would essentially be starting again with a new boss next season, and that would impact any hopes of making the playoffs.

A Bulut stay may well boost the odds, but an announcement has not been forthcoming despite beginning weeks ago. Meanwhile, City continue to lose ground on their rivals with free agents being snapped up, including at Middlesbrough, who signed Luke Ayling on a free transfer from Leeds United following a successful loan spell.