Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has revealed the club would be prepared to bring in a new manager if they are unable to resolve the dispute with current boss Malky Mackay.
Dalman says Cardiff are looking for a swift resolution to the situation and a meeting between Mackay and owner Vincent Tan will take place within a week or possibly on New Year's Day.
Mackay reiterated on Monday that he would not quit the club after receiving an ultimatum from Tan last week to resign or face the sack following a disagreement over transfers.
Dalman said: "Every effort that can be made is being made to allow the club to move forward. We will do everything humanly possible to maintain the status quo but if not we will move fast to repair the situation.
"If that means bringing in a new manager, we will, but for the time being, we believe that's premature and we will work together to fix the predicament we're in."
Mackay, who had expected to be sacked at the weekend before being given a reprieve of sorts, said on Monday that he had twice been rebuffed in his attempts to call immediate peace talks with Tan.
