Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent
And so history repeats itself at Cardiff City.
As was suggested in these columns last week this is a perilous time of year for Bluebirds bosses in the era of Vincent Tan.
Yet the departure of Erol Bulut was probably inevitable given Saturday’s desperately poor 2-0 Championship home defeat to Leeds United – the final act under the former Fenerbahce boss, contributing to the worst start to a league season in 94 years.
After the Leeds reverse Bulut actually said he was not worried about losing his job. Maybe he knew the game was up.
On Sunday, chairman Mehmet Dalman – a key figure in the original appointment of Bulut last summer – had the task of telling the former Turkey under-21 boss his time in charge was at an end 111 days after agreeing a new two year contract.
Undoubtedly Bulut improved matters last season. But the protracted negotiations over a new deal suggested Tan had his reservations about his re-appointment.
So that made a good start even more imperative for Bulut this season. One point with just one goal scored in six Championship games ensured Tan’s patience was tested beyond breaking point.
Thankfully the parting of the ways was delayed until the day after the commemoration of the late former Cardiff and Leeds favourite Sol Bamba.
It’s fair to say Bulut’s achievement last season in lifting the club to a palatable mid-table position and what looked like a promising summer transfer window had raised optimism among some of the Cardiff faithful, many of whom had been critical of the perception that the club had dragged their heels in contract negotiations.
There had always been some qualms and complaints over Bulut’s largely defensive set-up. Cardiff, rightly or wrongly, are traditionally seen as having an ‘in-your-face’ approach.
Set-pieces, fighting to the end for smash-and-grab victories and making the most of limited chances was the formula which worked last season.
This season, Bulut said he wanted more control of possession. But a chronic lack of pace undermined any attempts to turn Cardiff into a more attacking force.
The continuing injury woes of Isaak Davies, who does have pace, and Aaron Ramsey, have been major blows, allied to Bulut’s reluctance to give a run to the flair of Rubin Colwill.
And if some players have downed tools on Bulut, then they are duty bound to pick them up again now he has gone. We shall see.
Certainly the support of the fans home and away has been the one constant. They deserve better.
Last season may too often have been boring to watch, but supporters were prepared to put up with that in order to avoid the relegation worries of the previous few years. In this campaign there has been no such solace.
So what now? Well, there is no stability and probably won’t be under Tan. That has been clear throughout his tenure.
Off the field with the improved academy facilities and a new training ground ever closer, things are developing.
For some time, the club has been crying out for a director of football, but that appears a long way off – not least because that person would probably go the same way as a clutch of managers if results were bad.
As is the way with Cardiff in recent times, Omer Riza – who joined the coaching staff in the summer from Watford – will get the chance at the helm while a search is underway for a Bulut successor. If Riza does well, he could even get the job to the end of the season.
But despite the table position, the reputation of the owner and the general uncertainty at Cardiff there will be plenty of interest in the manager’s job.
Dalman nailed his colours to the Bulut mast, but after this experience may take a back seat on the next appointment with more responsibility on the shoulders of chief executive Ken Choo.
Frankly, money is best kept firmly in pocket over possible successors given the situation at Cardiff City.
All you can say is – they have plenty of experience of seeking someone to take the hot seat during the autumn.
