Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future in doubt

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future as Cardiff manager is in doubt as the Norwegian held talks with the club’s hierarchy in London today.

Press Association Sport understands Solskjaer’s future is in the balance after Cardiff slipped to 17th place in the Championship following a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough last night — the Bluebirds’ second home defeat in the space of four days.

Solskjaer's talks with club officials could signal the end of the Norwegian's eight-and-a-half-month reign in South Wales, although it is understood that this is not yet a foregone conclusion.

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan — who fell out spectacularly with previous manager Malky Mackay before the Scot's departure last December — has expressed his support publicly for Solskjaer in the past and relations between the two parties remain amicable.

But results have not picked up since the club was relegated from the Barclays Premier League last season and further summer investment in the squad.

Cardiff have won only five of Solskjaer’s 25 league games straddling two seasons and picked up only one point from the last 12 on offer.

Solskjaer has been backed heavily by Tan in the transfer market, signing 17 players in his time as Cardiff manager and just over two weeks ago he signed Gabon defender Bruno Ecuele Manga from French club Lorient for over £5million.

The Norwegian has often been criticised by Cardiff supporters for changing his team from one game to the next and there has been a groundswell of support for Tan to replace Solskjaer with Newport-born Bluebirds fan Tony Pulis, who left Crystal Palace last month.

Solskjaer accepted he was under pressure after the Middlesbrough defeat, saying: “I’m responsible and I should get better results than this; [better] than what we’ve had in the first seven games.”