Riza hopes for longer stay after 'honest' Tan talks

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image caption, Omer Riza's only previous managerial role was at Leyton Orient
  • Author, Dafydd Pritchard
  • Role, 麻豆官网首页入口 Sport Wales

Cardiff City interim manager Omer Riza hopes his "honest" meeting with club owner Vincent Tan in Malaysia will help him stay in the job.

Riza, 45, made the whistle-stop journey to Kuala Lumpur last week, seeking clarity over his position having been in the temporary role since Erol Bulut's dismissal two months ago.

Cardiff have improved greatly during Riza鈥檚 nine games in charge but the former Watford coach鈥檚 future remains uncertain.

"For me it was really important we met face to face. We鈥檝e spoken a lot on the phone," said Riza.

"It was important for me he asked me to go over there. It wasn鈥檛 easy [in terms of travel] but we鈥檝e done it. The conversations were very respectful and honest. I鈥檓 glad I went.

"I got there on Thursday, then met on Friday, had a good chat, really intriguing and it's great to see what Mr Tan's achieved in the course of his lifetime.

"I left Saturday night and got back Sunday morning. It was a tough week with travel, but worthwhile in meeting Mr Tan face to face, enjoyed it and came back and got ready for Monday."

'I've loved every moment. I don't want it to stop'

When he was asked if his own position and future were discussed, however, Riza did not give much away.

"There's nothing to say on that other than the board will in due course speak to the media," he added.

"But it was a really good trip and I'm happy to have done it, to go out there and show what my intentions were."

Cardiff have been keen to explore all managerial options after sacking Bulut on 22 September following the Bluebirds鈥 worst start to a season in the club鈥檚 history.

Riza was installed to allow Cardiff to take their time in the search for a new boss, which has been led by chief executive Ken Choo.

But there was also a willingness to give Riza a chance to impress after the former Arsenal player made it clear he felt able to succeed in the job.

Despite a lack of frontline management experience, Riza has overseen a marked improvement in form and playing style, with 14 points collected from his nine games in charge.

There have been calls - including from former Cardiff and Wales striker Nathan Blake - for the club to make a swift decision, and Riza hopes that will be to keep him in post.

"I鈥檝e loved every moment of it. I don鈥檛 want it to stop. The boys, the staff, the people around the club have been brilliant. We鈥檝e achieve a lot in a short space of time," he said.

"We鈥檙e not going to win every game. The best teams in the league are not winning every game, so why are we expected to? There shouldn鈥檛 be that expectation. Obviously we want to win and be champions and go up to the Premier League but, I鈥檝e said it all along, it鈥檚 the process that鈥檚 important.

"I stick by that and I believe my processes have been spot on, hence why the performances have been as they are. Camaraderie and morale is in a good place."