Cardiff City

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Crunch time is looming for manager Erol Bulut and Cardiff City.

Despite the absence of public statements, talks have continued between the club and the man who guided them to 12th position in the Championship last season.

At the end of April, BBC Sport Wales revealed owner Vincent Tan had belatedly sanctioned talks on extending Bulut's deal with the Bluebirds.

The German-born former Turkey Under-21 international has returned to his home in Istanbul to mull over his options.

It seems the length of a new deal was an initial difficulty, with Tan seemingly offering Bulut only a one-year option.

Bulut feels he deserves more - having lifted the club after two seasons of fighting relegation - and needs longer to continue the progress he made in the past season.

"I've been a guest, I want to be part of Cardiff family," was the way he put it.

It's also believed Bulut, should he stay, is keen to beef up his coaching staff and would understandably want assurances on financial support from the owner in this summer's transfer window.

Cardiff were limited with financial restrictions in last January's window, having previously been condemned to recruiting only free agents and loan transfers due to an English Football League (EFL) embargo.

With more scope in the market this summer, Bulut is keen to mould the squad unhindered.

That might even mean removing established players, both to raise more funds and to shape his pool of players as he wants.

It has been a frustrating time for Cardiff fans who, despite reservations among some over the style of football they saw last season, have indicated they want Bulut to stay. But the wait goes on.

Bulut had said he hoped for a "positive outcome" to talks over his future at Cardiff.

But the Bluebirds faithful will be understandably frustrated and more than a little concerned over the time which has elapsed since Tan gave a green light on talks.

With a decent pedigree as a manager, it would be no surprise if Bulut had been the subject of attention from other clubs.

He has been linked with Greek giants Panathinaikos. Sections of the Turkish press have touted him for a role at Besiktas, who sacked former Portugal boss Fernando Santos in early April and now have an interim head coach until the end of the Super Lig season.

Some matters have to continue despite Cardiff currently having no manager.

Fortunately, the retained list - which has to be submitted to the EFL this weekend - does not appear to be of massive importance.

Former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Romaine Sawyers is one out of contract. He is valued around the club, but made just six appearances this season, including only two substitute outings in the Championship.

Goalkeeper Rohan Luthra's contract also expires this summer. The 21-year-old had a loan spell at Slough last term, with Matthew Turner the regular bench support for Ethan Horvath during Jak Alnwick's time out with injury in the second half of the campaign.

Tan, as ever under his reign, will have the final say on what is the club's final offer to Bulut. But then it is up to the man who is the centre of attention.

Will Bulut settle to continue the work he has started with the Bluebirds?

Or will he take his chance elsewhere and leave Cardiff seeking their seventh boss in a little over three years?

For the sake of the club and the fans it is a saga which must end soon.

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Former Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay has been named as Hibernian's new sporting director.

Mackay led the Bluebirds to promotion to the Premier League in 2013 after winning the Championship title.

The 52-year-old had been out of work since being sacked from Scottish Premier League side Ross County in November 2023.

The ex-Watford manager officially starts working with the club on 1 June and will oversee the club's entire football operation.

Many Hibs fans have expressed their disapproval at the appointment, with some labelling it a disgrace because of controversial text messages he sent whilst manager of Cardiff City.

Gossip: Hibs fans' fury at Mackay arrival

Hibs, who are now without a head coach have also stated that Mackay will lead the search in finding a replacement for Nick Montgomery, after he was relieved of his duties on Tuesday - the same day as Mackay's recruitment was announced.

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Former Cardiff and England striker Jay Bothroyd says the Bluebirds are in danger of letting "doubt and chaos" creep into the club if the situation around Erol Bulut isn't sorted soon.

Manager Bulut is mulling over Cardiff's offer of a new contract after owner Vincent Tan sanctioned talks over a new deal to go ahead.

An agreement is yet to be reached, with the length of contract believed to be the main point of contention.

As supporters wait, it means planning for next season is likely to be on hold, with fan favourite Bothroyd concerned, suggesting former Fenerbahce boss Bulut may have had his head turned by rival offers.

Bulut has been speculatively linked with jobs at Besiktas, Hull and Panathinaikos, and speaking to Radio Wales Breakfast, Bothroyd said: "I don't know what's happening.

"The fact he's stalling on a new contract is a bit worrying because I'm thinking maybe another club is tapping him or his agent up. That's the only reason why I can think he's taking his time so much.

"Maybe he's asking the question to the club if he's going to have money to spend to improve the club, in which case it'll be up to Cardiff.

"But they should be making a decision sooner rather than later so when it comes to pre-season things are settled, this can't be lingering on through to pre-season because it doesn't help anyone - the players, the manager, the staff - and doubt and chaos creeps in then."

Bothroyd spent three years at Cardiff, narrowly missing out on promotion as part of Dave Jones' side, and said he was satisfied with the improvements made at his old club by Turkish manager Bulut.

"To be honest, he has done a decent job and I know that Cardiff are going through a transitional period.

"I think he is a good manager, I've seen a lot more positives than I have in past managers."

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As the Premier League season reaches its climax, it is now five years since Cardiff City said their top-flight farewells.

Last weekend saw the anniversary of the Bluebirds' final game of their most recent season among the elite.

Neil Warnock's side, promoted in thrilling fashion the previous year, had already been relegated before the last weekend of the 2018-19 campaign.

But they went out in style, claiming their first win over Manchester United since 1954 with a 2-0 triumph at Old Trafford.

It was less leaky roof and more raining Cardiff goals as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored twice to beat a United side managed by former Bluebirds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and containing the likes of Paul Pogba and David de Gea.

Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot, Scot McTominay and Anthony Martial all remain at United having featured that day, but only one of the Cardiff side is still playing in the Premier League.

But what happened to the rest of the Bluebirds involved that day?

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Neil Etheridge: The Philippines goalkeeper left Cardiff for Birmingham in 2020, but lost his No.1 shirt to John Ruddy this season. Out of contract following Blues’ relegation to League One.

Lee Peltier: Liverpudlian full-back spent time at West Brom and Middlesbrough before heading to Rotherham, where he had a spell as caretaker manager. Now 37, he is said to be pondering retirement after his release by the Millers following their relegation from the Championship.

Joe Bennett: Released in 2021 after five years at Cardiff, the left-back joined Wigan before heading to Oxford in November last year. Aged 34, he is a regular in the U’s side who have reached the League One play-off final.

Sean Morrison: The promotion-winning captain was not offered a new deal and left for Rotherham once he recovered from serious knee injury in January 2023. Wore the armband for the Millers but released last week.

Bruno Manga: Gabon centre-back left for Dijon after Cardiff's relegation from the top flight and, at 35, has remained in France with third tier Chamois Niortais.

Josh Murphy: Another at the Kassam Stadium, the 29-year-old winger in his second season with Oxford after leaving south Wales in 2022 following a loan spell at Preston.

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Leandro Bacuna: Stayed with the club after relegation before being frozen out following a needless sending off at Bournemouth in December 2021. Released the following summer, the midfielder signed a short term deal with Watford before joining boyhood club Groningen last summer, helping them to promotion to the Dutch top flight.

Aron Gunnarsson: Turned down a new deal before the end of the Premier League season, moving to Qatar after 286 Bluebirds appearances. Left Al Arabi recently but the 35-year-old remains Iceland captain.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing: The hero of the day, the winger had his contract terminated the following September following a drugs ban. Reunited with Neil Warnock at Middlesbrough before a year at Sheffield Wednesday. Now in his second season at Derby, he has just played a key role in helping the Rams to promotion from League One.

Kenneth Zohore: A disappointing season in the top flight did not stop the striker switching to West Brom for £8m that summer. Fell flat with the Baggies, playing just 19 games in three years, and has also spent time at Millwall, Odense and Polish side Slask Wroclaw. Still only 30 but without a club since March.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid: A £10m signing that season, he switched to Championship Fulham after relegation and has been at the Cottage ever since. Now 31, he the only player still playing in the Premier League, and has six goals this season.

Subs - Jazz Richards: Took time out after leaving Cardiff during the Covid pandemic before joining Cymru Premier side Haverfordwest, where he remains. Danny Ward: Rejoined Huddersfield after leaving Cardiff in 2020, where he has a year left on his deal.

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Cardiff City's Kieron Evans was part of the Gateshead squad which overcame Solihull Moors in a penalty shoot-out in the FA Trophy final at Wembley.

The National League sides were level at 2-2 after ninety minutes before Gateshead won 5-4 on penalties.

Bluebirds midfielder Evans, 22, scored one of the penalties in the shoot-out to make it 4-4 before Gateshead edged it.

Evans joined Gateshead on loan in January, scoring three goals in 16 league appearances. He helped Gateshead finish sixth in the National League but the north east club were denied a play-off spot because the Football League deemed they had not satisfied the criteria for promotion after failing to gain a "10-year security of tenure" at the International Stadium, where they have played since 1971.

Evans featured in four cup games for Cardiff last season. He made his Cardiff debut in a 2-1 Championship win at Nottingham Forest in September 2021, making five league outings for the Bluebirds.

In the wake of the Wembley celebrations, Evans now faces a period of uncertainty.

His current deal at Cardiff ends this summer. But there is no decision yet on the future of Cardiff manager Erol Bulut.

The Cardiff retained list has to be submitted to the EFL in the next few days.

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Erol Bulut’s uncertain future as Cardiff City manager has seen him being linked with other jobs in Europe.

Bulut is understood to be back in his native Turkey, having not yet agreed a new deal with the Bluebirds and it is believed the length of a potential new contract is the main point of contention between the two parties.

But what next for Bulut, if not Cardiff?

Panathinaikos are the latest club to be linked with the 49-year-old, with reports in Greece suggesting their current manager Fatih Terim, another Turkish boss, will leave his position as manager.

Fotospor even report that a meeting has already been held between Panathinaikos' president, Giannis Alafouzos, and Bulut's representatives.

It is not the first time a major European club has been linked with Bulut. Last month, Bulut refused to comment on speculation linking him with Turkish side Besiktas.

Of course, one man who can end such speculation is the Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan, who is yet to comment on Bulut’s immediate future.

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Cardiff City defender Perry Ng has been included in the Championship team of the season.

Ng was named players' player of the year and supporters' player of the year at Cardiff's end-of-season awards last month.

Now there is a further accolade for the 28-year-old former Crewe Alexandra player.

The Championship's team of 2023-24 was selected based on WhoScored.com ratings.

Ng has an average rating of 7.10 across the campaign, the third highest for a defender behind Ipswich's Leif Davis (7.15) and Hull centre-back Jacob Greaves (7.13).

Watford's Wesley Hoedt makes up the team of the season's back four, with Birmingham City's John Ruddy in goal despite the Blues' relegation.

Leicester pair Abdul Fatawu and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are joined in midfield by Norwich's Gabriel Sara and Leeds' Crysencio Summerville, the highest rated player with 7.65.

Leeds' Georginio Rutter is up front with Southampton forward Adam Armstrong.

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Defender Nat Phillips says he will report for pre-season with Liverpool and then see what the future holds after a successful loan spell at Cardiff City.

Phillips, 27, was almost ever present for the Bluebirds after joining in January, making 17 starts and one substitute appearance for the Championship club.

“It’s nice to be back playing games, playing regularly," he told LFCTV GO's Extra Time programme.

“It was really important that wherever I went I was playing regularly and doing my bit. Fortunately, I have had the chance to do that at Cardiff. I’ve played almost every minute of every game.”

Prior to the 2023-24 season, Phillips had spent time on loan at VfB Stuttgart and AFC Bournemouth.

He has only made 16 starts for Liverpool in five years after coming through the club's academy and says nothing beats the experience of regular first-team football.

“It’s a really useful tool to get yourself off the mark, get your exposure to first-team football and get used to the demands, playing in front of crowds, away from that home comfort,” he said.

“You have to adapt otherwise you don’t survive. You pick things up along the way.

“I’ve been asked to do different things by different managers. Obviously at Liverpool it is high-pressing football, getting after opponents and trying to play out from the back.

“At Cardiff we try to mix it up a bit. Sometimes we’ll press high, sometimes we’ll let opponents have it, try to pinch it and hurt them on the break."

Phillips is uncertain what the future holds, and it is likely to remain up in the air for now with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp leaving Anfield at the end of the season.

“Looking to the summer, sometimes you can worry and overthink things too much," he said.

"You can only control what you can control. The plan is to go back in pre-season and just take it from there.”

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Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut says he can offer no further clarity on if he will remain Bluebirds boss next season.

Bulut reiterated that he wanted to stay as part of the Cardiff City "family," after a 5-2 defeat at relegated Rotherham ensured a 12th-placed finish in the Championship.

Bulut is out of contract this summer and said talks had been "positive" over a new deal.

“At the moment I don’t have something clear I can say," he told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“We are on one point that maybe takes a few days for the club. I hope Mehmet and Vincent Tan will have a meeting.

“If the club want to continue with me, I have made it clear, I don’t want to be a guest anymore I want to be part of the family. I want to build this family together.

“The next step is the decision of the club. I believe we can build here much, much better things."

Bulut says he expects his future to be settled quickly.

“When this will be sorted is a good question, you should ask our chairman Mehmet Dalman or our owner Vincent Tan, they can give a better answer on this," he said.

“It shouldn’t take a long time because I have to make also plans for my career and Cardiff City have to make plans.

“It hopefully should not be a long time we have to wait."

Bulut has been linked to jobs in his native Turkey and Italy but offered "no comment" when asked if he had other offers.

“I have said many times I would like to continue to build here," he added.

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Erol Bulut will ask for one final push from his Cardiff City players as they end the Championship season at Rotherham United on Saturday.

Cardiff will look to bounce back after heavy defeat to Middlesbrough in their final home game of the campaign last weekend.

The Bluebirds claimed one of their most enjoyable wins of the season as two late goals saw them beat promotion-chasing Southampton on 20 April, but followed that rousing triumph with a 4-1 loss to Boro.

“Sometimes pressure is good, sometimes when you are too relaxed it’s not good,” Bulut said.

“What I don’t like is that Southampton was great. We gave everything. Middlesbrough we had not enough players [because of injury], but this is not an excuse to lose the game 4-1.

“The last game against Rotherham, still half the team is not with us because of injury.

“We will have the youngsters. But the opponent team also have many injuries I think. They have 10, we have 13, so we are close!”

Callum O’Dowda is set to return to the Cardiff squad at Rotherham after his latest injury lay-off.

A win against the Millers could see Bulut’s team secure a top-10 Championship finish, depending on results elsewhere.

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Erol Bulut says Ebou Adams will return to Cardiff City next season unless Derby County make a move to sign the midfielder on a permanent basis.

Adams helped the Rams win promotion back to the Championship after joining them on loan in January.

The 28-year-old had made nine appearances for Bulut’s Cardiff in the first half of the season and has another year to run on his Bluebirds contract.

Speaking after Derby clinched promotion last weekend – and amid suggestions the Pride Park club would like to sign him on a full-time deal - Adams said he did not know where he would be playing next season.

When asked about Adams’ situation, Cardiff boss Bulut said: “I congratulate him for the victory - they got promoted. He was a big part of the season, he helped the team a lot.

“New season, we are all together here we will see how it goes. He is still under contract at Cardiff City.

“Let’s see how he thinks, how his manager thinks, how the clubs think, Cardiff City and Derby. If they are interested, they have to discuss with our club.”

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Erol Bulut says Cardiff City must look to improve in every department if they are to achieve their goal of returning to the Premier League.

Manager Bulut is in talks with the Bluebirds over a new contract after a successful first season at the Welsh club.

Bulut’s current agreement ends after Saturday’s trip to Rotherham United, the final game of the 2023-24 Championship season.

But amid optimism that the former Fenerbahce boss will sign a new long-term deal, Bulut is already looking ahead to the new campaign.

And he says the signing of new players is the “first step” for Cardiff this summer.

“Of course for this, the budget is important,” he added.

“When we want to go to the next level, we have to be focused on this and work like this to go that direction – not only me, everybody in the club.”

Cardiff are guaranteed a top-half finish having battled relegation in the last two seasons.

Bulut wants to make further progress next season – and says it will take more than some good transfer business to make that happen.

“It’s not only players. I will try to make my coaching staff bigger next season,” he added.

“For recruitment, we have to work on scouts [and] we have brought already one or two in. We have to add a little bit in every part so we can go up all together as a club.”

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Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut says midfielder Rubin Colwill is being tracked by a number of Premier League clubs.

Colwill has scored three goals and provided four assists in 39 appearances this season, showing further signs of his undoubted promise along the way.

The 22-year-old, who shot to prominence when he was named in the Wales squad for Euro 2020, signed a new contract last September which ties him to Cardiff until 2027.

Though Colwill has not always made Bulut’s starting side, the former Fenerbahce boss says the attacking midfielder has made significant progress in 2023-24.

“When I saw Rubin in pre-season and where he is right now… I think it’s a big, big step [forward],” Bulut said.

“Now he is in the target of many Premier League clubs.”

Southampton boss Russell Martin showered praise on Colwill after the Saints’ defeat at Cardiff City Stadium in April.

Bulut says Colwill is bound to have admirers given his attacking qualities, but does not want to see him leave Wales this summer.

“It’s not surprising because I knew at the start of the season that he can be much, much better,” he added.

“He worked hard, he listened to us, but I still believe he can do much more.

“Then he will be at that level where we maybe we cannot hold him here.”

Colwill has taken part in light training this week after a hamstring issue, but is unlikely to feature in Cardiff’s final game of the Championship campaign, at Rotherham United on Saturday.