Riza understands frustration over Cardiff job wait

Omer Riza joined Cardiff from Watford ahead of the 2024-25 season

Cardiff City interim boss Omer Riza says he understands fans’ frustration about the uncertainty surrounding the club’s managerial vacancy.

Riza has been in charge since Erol Bulut was sacked last month, and club sources had indicated at the time that they were hoping to have a new manager in place by October’s international break.

But that has been and gone, despite former Plymouth and Stoke manager Steven Schumacher, ex-Croatia boss Slaven Bilic, Charlton's Nathan Jones - a boyhood Bluebirds fan - and current Reading manager Ruben Selles all being linked with the role.

Bottom side Cardiff return to Championship action on Saturday with a home match against Plymouth Argyle, with Riza set to be at the helm for a fourth game.

The former Watford coach has overseen a win, a draw and a defeat from his three fixtures to date but has not yet been told whether or not he will get the job on a permanent basis.

"I really don't know what to say about it," Riza said.

"The fans are frustrated, want clarity and I’m sure they’ll get it at some time. I can’t really over-elaborate on it because I don't really know myself.

“I’m just trying to do the best job I can and it is important to me the fans are happy. I'm hoping over this period they will be as happy as they can be with what we give them.”

Cardiff have mustered only five points and four goals from nine Championship matches so far, although Riza’s three games account for four of those points and half those goals.

The Bluebirds have improved under the former Leyton Orient boss, playing a more attacking brand of football.

Riza has made no secret of the fact he would like to be appointed permanently and said he was “hopeful” that would happen.

But he remains in the dark about his future, despite being in regular contact with Cardiff owner Vincent Tan, chief executive Ken Choo and chairman Mehmet Dalman.

“I always talk with Mr Tan, Ken and Mehmet. It's more about what we are doing, how we approach games,” said Riza.

“I do it off my own back so they know what we’re doing. It's like having a director of football who you speak to regularly, they feed back what they’re thinking and you listen to what they have to say respectfully.”

Although Riza’s future is uncertain, he has started planning for the January transfer window.

"There's always conversations in respect of player contracts and transfer windows in January, because it would be wrong of me not to do that," he added.

"If I don't do that then it would be wrong of me because if you fail to prepare then prepare to fail.

"That's definitely taking place and it has to - we would be stupid not to. But at the same time it might be the case of I'm here today and gone tomorrow. Which would be sad for me, but that's football, and those conversations have to take place again."