Cardiff City unveiled new manager Erol Bulut on Monday afternoon as a new era starts in the Welsh capital. Here is what he said, along with chairman Mehmet Dalman and chief executive Ken Choo.
MD: I would like to welcome Erol to Cardiff City. I am delighted with this appointment and I couldn’t have done it without Ken (Choo) and Vincent (Tan).
This meeting should be about Erol. So I will pass it over.
READ MORE: New Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut eyes up to 10 new signings as he lays out exciting transfer plan
What attracted you to the job?
EB: I wanted to thank Vincent, Mehmet Dalman and Ken to make it possible that I am here. It was not the easy way. But we had discussions 10 days ago when we met, so then we made it possible that we are all together right now here.
I wanted to have a new challenge to be in the Championship to show what I can show in that league, like what I already showed in the Turkish league in the last six years.
We had the chance to go to the Europa League qualification. Cardiff will be a different way.
I am always a manager to have targets, without targets you cannot survive. Also, the players should know the targets we have. For that, we have to work hard every day. Have discipline. Respect each other.
Difficulties in not being able to pay for players, did not put you off?
EB: I already had it many times in the Turkish league. It will not be easy. But also we have good contacts to European leagues to search for good players to bring them here.
We cannot buy players, but we can loan players and we can loan good players, I hope, and work all together to fix it as early as possible.
At the end of the transfer period there will be more effective players on the transfer market, maybe we can get them.
We have to search and get as many good players as possible. The Championship is a tough league, the teams who are in the league are tough teams, but we will also be tough for them.
Your contract, staff and Tan…?
EB: With Vincent, I had a conversation two weeks ago via Zoom call. Vincent already got promoted two times to the Premier League. Why not a third time? We will make everything possible.
Last year was not so easy to keep in the league, but we don’t want to be in that position again, so we will have to work for that.
Coaching staff?
EB: Yes, two of my old staff will be with me. In the following days I will speak with a few others, we will have to speak in the coming days.
How long contract?
EB: One year. It shows we have a target and we can continue this work together. One year plus two (as an option which can be triggered).
Target for the club this season?
EB: First of all, the training camp and sessions we have to observe what we have and what we need. I have watched two or three games and already we can see what kind of players we have to take for the new season.
What sort of manager are you?
EB: First of all, I don’t like to talk about me. I don’t like that. But one thing I can say about myself, I like discipline for my players, respect each other, not only respect the coach, themselves and the people in the club. That is very important to me.
I’m not a gamble. I like to win. I do not like to lose. I will make everything possible to win and not lose. If we don’t win, we have to get a point. At home, we have to be much stronger, with the fans behind us, everywhere, we need them to support us and we can make some good games. I hope more than this season.
Why Erol?
KC: We interviewed several managers. Between Mehmet and me, almost a dozen. He came across as a person who has fire in the eyes. The same characteristics as Vincent, so we knew they would get along. He has that determination and fire in him to succeed.
Bringing a family over to Wales is not an easy position for Erol, but he has decided and we will support him. It’s a no-brainer.
Players lined up?
EB: I saw two games, so from there I already thought in my head that I had a system I wanted to play with the team. We have to discuss about that, but already I have in my head the players I want already.
Fire in the eye, can you go through the search for a manager?
MD: Because it was the end of season, we didn’t have to rush. This time we had a process in place.We tried to approach Erol two years ago, or 18 months ago, we tried to work with him. We went through the process and had some very good candidates - more European than English.
We went through several interviews on the same candidate. I flew Erol to Monaco which was the first time I met him.
What distinguished Erol for me was two things, one, his desire to win something and establish his own reputation. That’s a good motivation I can tag along with.
Many years ago when I went to work in the city, these investment banks came in and all said the same thing and I asked the hedge fund manager how he decided, and he said it was the one he could have a relationship with. That’s the relationship I feel I can have with Erol.
His ambition was important but his personality was important, those are the two real factors.
Team has lost half its games last two years, how do you turn losers into winners?
EB: There are some small details about losing and winning. But I think I will have the job with my coaches to put it in the players’ minds not about losing, about winning points and winning games. This will start the first day when we meet here. We will have a lot of meetings individually and within groups.
When I started my first job in management, I decided to be a head coach, they were not in a good position, I said we had to think positively.
This is football - 46 games - from the last to the first one we can change a lot of things.
What style are you looking to play?
EB: My style, my favourite is 4-2-3-1, sometimes 4-3-3. We can speak a lot about systems. But in the game, all my players should know that when we have the ball they know what to do. It could look like a 4-2-3-1 but it could change.
Team was not good enough last year, what do you think of it, where it needs strengthening?
EB: We need in every department. Offensive department, Cardiff scored only 41 goals. Second bottom scorers. In attacking, we have to invest. Attacking is not only wingers, strikers, No.10. This will start from the back, from the goalkeeper.
Have players yourself you want to bring in?
EB: We have some players in our hand. Some players we will have to discuss about them. I think from the club, their contracts are finished, seven of them.
I have to see the players in training for the first 10 days. I think around eight to 10 players can be possible.
From the continent?
EB: I think it will be a mix, because the last few years were only British.
Lack of managing outside of Turkey, is that a handicap or can it help you?
EB: I don’t think it’s a handicap. I know the system. I played in Greece and Germany, this helps me a lot.
How ambitious are you?
EB: I don’t want to mention now. I want to start and during the season we will see where it is going.
What are your targets?
MD: We made a decision not to just improve the team. This is an effort for us to start a new initiative and really have a go. I would be doing the manager a disservice to talk about my targets, the manager’s targets are my targets.
This isn’t an exercise in getting a football manager in. This is not a cheap hire. We have targets, strategy and a vision. Erol will be a key in that strategy.
I don’t want a season like last season - it was horrible.
What has gone wrong?
MD: A lack of stability. We have to choose well and I’m not sure we have chosen the best managers in the past. You have to get the manager right.
I don’t like the word gamble, but is it a risk? Any manager you bring in is a risk. Alex Ferguson is a risk. But it has to be a calculated risk.
It’s exciting and a new direction for the club. Do I think there will be more colour in the way we play football? I think so.
You don’t have to be a genius to do better than what we did last year! We do have a game plan.
Other clubs interested in you?
EB: I can tell you honestly, first of all I want to make the decision quick, because I can plan early, because some leagues are still playing. In Germany, I have good contacts over there.
Mehmet said, when we met, what they want and what I want, it was the same. They feel also that I am the right man and I can say from my side that I want the Championship and I want the challenge.
I like the competition here in England. I also follow Championship games and I like the style. I was listening in Turkey where I was manager.
Last job in Turkey, left just before the earthquake…
EB: The earthquake, I was with my family there, before the earthquake I broke up the contract. I don’t want to talk about that. I am a person, if someone says something and doesn’t do it, that is not the way to continue.
It was not an easy time there. It was about the promises. That’s why we broke up the contract. It was a different experience for me.
In Antep, in the centre, not many buildings were destroyed, but we were shaken. It was 4am and we were sleeping. The small villages were totally destroyed. We couldn’t go out. We couldn’t drive to Istanbul because the streets were destroyed.
My house, I felt it shake. My kids still have a thing about that, thinking that it’s shaking. We made a plan to get out of there. Thank god I arranged a private jet in Antep and we left. An ex-team-mate of mine died, one from Fenerbahce, he died. And also an ex-coach who was also with me, he died, too. It was not easy. If I think about this I don’t feel well. It was not easy for my country.
What guarantees Vincent won’t pull trigger?
MD: Who knows? No guarantees. Vincent will always be Vincent and do what he wants. He is the one driving this. He is the one who made the decision to do this.
One of the things we always fail on with this club is being able to manage upwards. Every manager that comes on board, I tell them to ring Vincent, not me. He believes he understands football. One of the first things I said to Erol was to be involved and be part of it. I think as long as we work with Vincent as an integral part of decision making, I’m pretty confident of that.
What state is the club in?
KC: Transition. We are trying to start afresh. A completely different direction, this is a wildcard.
MD: The club is pretty stable. The football needs to change.
The backroom staff?
EB: It will be an assistant, performance coach and a goalkeeper coach. But also in a few days, we will discuss with Mehmet (Dalman) about that.
MD: We won't release the names yet, because they haven't signed their contracts and we don't want to breach their confidentiality. But it's three all together.
Dean (Whitehead), I think it's well known he has been approached by another club. We respect his decision whether he wants to go there or stay here. From what I know he hasn't made up his mind - but I think he is more or less done in terms of going. And we don't want to stand in his way, he has been a good servant here. We want to say thank you to him.
Sol (Bamba), we knew him as a player and we've known him as a coach now for a little while. And that's a conversation once the manager gets his feet under the table. It's all very open.
Out of contract players?
MD: Some have been very clear and some of them have publicly announced they are going. There are some where we said and they said, well, let's wait for the new manager and then we'll have a dialogue around that. He is here and we will have a dialogue.
First Turkish manager, are you a trailblazer?
EB: If I am successful here. I hope other Turkish coaches can make the move. I can always believe in myself and proved it in Turkey,. I want to show it here.
Is it unfair people are questioning whether you are a risk?
EB: Of course. Fans maye don’t follow the Turkish league. I can say a little bit about the Turkish Super Lig. It’s not an easy league. Many foreign coaches we had in the Turkish league. We have to try and go out of Turkey, to believe in your qualities so we can make this step. I made this step now and I hope I made a good decision.
What’s it like playing/managing Fenerbahce?
EB: Fenerbahce is one of the biggest clubs in Turkey. I won the title with them in 1995/96. I coached them and it’s not easy. Because they didn’t win the title the last eight years - there is a lot of pressure on the players.
The fans want the title.
We made mistakes during my time and also at other times. They have to change something maybe inside the club and change some detail.
You’ve managed very pressurised environment?
EB: Yes, the pressure is high. When I signed there I knew. I feel closed to them and I decided to be manager there. So we go there and played some good games. I have the best result in the derbies in the last six years.
MD: …There are two points to add. When we spoke to Erol, he went to Fenerbahce. And the second point, about being the first Turkish manager. He is also the first since Frank O'Farrell to come to Cardiff having managed a big club.
Message to Cardiff fans?
EB: My message is that we need them. For every game. We need that support from the fans. The players can put maybe 10 or 20 percent more on their game (because of it).
Patience is needed. In two or three weeks we cannot say we will win everything. We have to take steps one by one. If we take three or four steps immediately, it can be difficult. We need to work on it.
You’ve got high targets?
EB: We will see. I have an opinion on what I want from the team, the club and myself. I have also pushed myself on the highest level. This will be no different. I push myself on something and then ask it of my players.
MD: …There was a meeting of minds and conviction between Erol and Vincent that we can set a new benchmark. This is not the cheap option, this is a real commitment strategically from the owner, board and down to the staff. The first thing we did is introduce Erol to the staff, which you never get to do because it’s always a quick appointment.
Keeping the club alive in the Championship? How hard was it?
MD: I’m not so sure. A lot of people say you were lucky because Reading got six points deducted. If they hadn’t had six points deducted we’d have played different. Birmingham was the turnaround game when Perry Ng scored that free-kick. You could see the confidence change.
I think just seeing that team lose momentum in previous years. I could see successive managers who didn’t know how to win a game. If you look at Erol’s track record, he wins games. He doesn’t give many points away. If he doesn’t win, he doesn’t lose.
What is the Cardiff way? When I saw the style of football Erol plays, he is not a million miles away from the way Cardiff play historically.
10 years at Cardiff, how do you assess that period?
MD: Probably a 5 or 6/10. This is a privately-held company with one shareholder. We have a board, in a single ownership, it’s difficult. I’ve done it before. You can only recommend and execute. Everything else in the middle is not the board’s decision. How well have I judged myself recommending, probably more than five or six, what about executing that recommendation? Well, that last 18 months I sort of gave up. Now this is a new incentive for me. I have a consistent team here and Ken and I work very well, within the remit of our owner. I am re-engaging myself because this man (Erol) is here.
Is this a new trajectory?
MD: It’s not a line in the sand, it’s not that clear. It’s just exciting again and I got that buzz again.
How many season tickets have been sold?
KC: Currently we are at 11 or 12,000. It’s pretty good. With Erol’s announcement we expect an uplift. I would hope for 14,000.
MD: I reckon we will sell 18,000. I think we have a few more announcements that will make the fans happy.
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