CRAIG Bellamy has ruled himself out of becoming Oxford United's next manager.

The former Wales forward was the red-hot favourite to replace Pep Clotet and as short as 1-12 with bookmakers last week.

But the Cardiff City player development manager, has now withdrawn from talks.

Ken Choo, chief exective of the Championship club, told the Oxford Mail: "We spoke to Craig about him having preliminary talks with Oxford United.

"He has decided to stay at Cardiff City, and we support him in his decision and are delighted that he has decided to remain with us.”

Sumith Thanakarnjanasuth's takeover at United last week changed the dynamic of United's managerial search.

The Thai businessman revealed on Monday that Bellamy was one of four candidates in the running and that he was hopeful of making an announcement 'in a day or two'.

Outgoing chairman Darryl Eales said he was close to being able to appoint the new manager, but the sale of the club to Thanakarnjanasuth meant that decision was now out of his hands.

Brian McDermott, a 33-1 shot yesterday morning, is now as short as 7-4 for the job.

The former Reading manager worked with Thanakarnjanasuth at the Royals in 2016, before he was sacked after just six months in charge of his second spell at the club, having taken them to the Premier League in 2012.