Erol Bulut: Cardiff City boss 'important part of our plans', says Mehmet Dalman

Erol Bulut was appointed in June 2023 as Cardiff City's seventh manager in under five years

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has allayed fears over the future of manager Erol Bulut.

And he has assured fans the club are working hard to make signings in the January transfer window.

Doubts over Bulut's future arose after an explosive interview with BBC Sport Wales after Saturday's 3-1 Championship defeat at Plymouth Argyle.

But Dalman said on Monday: "He's going nowhere. Erol is an important part of our plans."

Following Saturday's loss, Bulut said he was "not happy with many things" and that he was considering his future.

"I have to decide about myself and the future with the club. I will make a decision about that," said the 48-year-old former Fenerbahce boss.

"I have to maybe make a decision for myself on how my future will go with the club, because I came here to change things in a positive way."

He cited his frustration with Cardiff's inability to bring in signings so far during the current transfer window, suggesting new recruits were integral to him continuing.

Bulut said: "Everyone knows [we need players]. I know it, the board knows it, the fans know it, all of us, we know it."

Having emerged from a transfer embargo on buying players, Cardiff are able to spend money on transfer fees this window, rather than just having to scour the loan and free agent markets.

But so far they have been frustrated in their efforts to bring players to the club - with Bournemouth's Wales striker Kieffer Moore their number one target.

It is understood Bulut has been involved in talks on Monday to get transfers over the line.

And chairman Dalman, who spearheaded the move to bring Bulut to Cardiff last June, told fans the club are working hard on new recruits.

"I want to assure supporters we are making every effort to get players in. It has been difficult but we are still optimistic," he said.

"So far in this market there has been little movement. We are not alone."

Because they are out of the FA Cup, Cardiff do not have a game until their home Championship fixture with Watford on February 3 - after the January transfer window closes.

Cardiff still have to operate within financial fair play rules but by the time of the Watford encounter, they hope to have recruited reinforcements to boost a side sitting 14th in the table after only one win in their last five league games.

They may also seek to end the uncertainty over Bulut's contract arrangement.

He signed a one-year deal when he was appointed and, despite the recent run of form, has overseen a big improvement in the team. The club are expected to take action to cement his future at Cardiff City Stadium.