MARK HUDSON has insisted former Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock will not be making a shock return to take his job.

Former Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United boss W arnock announced his retirement from management in April 2022, ending a 42-year career in which he won a record eight Football League promotions and managed 1,603 matches.

But speculation has mounted in recent days that the 74-year-old, who managed Cardiff between 2016 and 2019 and guided them into the Premier League in 2018, is set to return to the Welsh capital.

Cardiff are currently 20th in the Championship and have gone seven games and two months without tasting victory, raising question marks over Hudson’s future.

NO GO: Neil Warnock, who Mark Hudson has insisted will not be making a shock return to take his job at Cardiff City Picture: Nick Potts/PA.

But former Terriers centre-half Hudson, who succeeded Steve Morison in September and was later told by Cardiff owner Vincent Tan that he would be in charge at least until the end o f the season “unless he does badly”, says he has been assured that Warnock will not be replacing him.

Speaking before Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Leeds, Hudson said: “I’ve spoken to them behind the scenes and it’s 100 per cent not true.

“I spoke to the chairman (Mehmet Dalman) and I was told there were rumours. That’s part and parcel of football, but 100 per cent it’s not Neil Warnock in that respect.

“My job is to concentrate and then look forward to a big game against Wigan.

GOING NOWHERE: Cardiff City caretaker manager Mark Hudson Picture: Bradley Collyer/PA

“I’ve been in football a long time. Speculation is speculation and it will not deter my focus from what the job is.

“That is something I will continue to do – and that (Warnock rumour) was put to bed.

“I know my job is to get results, regardless of speculation of any situation where we are.”

Former Huddersfield Town favourite confident Neil Warnock will NOT be returning to take his Championship job