His present contract expires this week and the club has decided against offering him a new deal.

The decision was reached amicably between himself and Cardiff owner Sam Hammam, Gould said.

"It's in the best interest of the football club that there's a parting of the ways," Gould added.

"But I'd like to think that we've worked very diligently over the 12 months that I've been there."

The former Wales manager joined Cardiff less than a year ago, and was originally in charge of the first team.

Cardiff nor Gould himself have ruled out the possibility of him returning to the club sometime in the future.

The timing of Gould's departure will be a surprise to many, coming a few weeks before Cardiff begin the new season in the Second Division after winning promotion from Division Three.

But Gould, who took Wimbledon to FA Cup glory in 1988, feels he no longer has anything to prove in the game and wants to pursue other avenues.

"I've played and I've coached in football and had a wonderful career," said the 55-year-old.

"I've been national team manager of Wales and now I've helped put an infrastructure together at Cardiff.

"But its now time for me to move on and for Alan Cork and Sam Hammam to take the club forward.

"Cardiff City have got a very, very sound foundation to build on."