Omer Riza: Cardiff City interim boss understands fans’ frustration

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.”