HOW THE BULUT WAS FIRED

Vincent Tan's order and Ken Choo's phone call - how Erol Bulut was sacked by Cardiff City

The Bluebirds have fired their manager just six league games into his new contract
walesonline

As Cardiff City Stadium emptied after a chastening defeat by Leeds United, there was a sense of inevitability which filled the cavernous arena.

Erol Bulut took an age to attend his post-match press conference, almost 45 minutes from the time the final whistle blew, in fact, which is pretty unheard of and largely indicative of a manager trying to adjust his thoughts ahead of inevitable questions surrounding his future at the club.

McCarthy never turned up to that post-match press conference, having already been given his marching orders before being asked to speak to the media. It is said that McCarthy told one of the communications officers at the time, "I've got the Tic-Tac!"

For Mark Hudson, his fate was sealed minutes after conducting his post-match press conference following a 1-1 draw with Wigan. He walked out of the media room and was marched immediately up to the board room.

For Bulut, however, his fate was sealed the morning after his final match in charge. Despite CEO Ken Choo and Mehmet Dalman being at the game to pay their respects to Sol Bamba, neither delivered the news in the hours after the match.

Bulut said he had not been given the nod that any talks were to take place that evening, but his fate was sealed via a phone call from Choo this morning.

Given Malaysia are eight hours in front of the UK, it would have been 1am by the time Josh Smith blew the final whistle on what would end up being Bulut's last game in charge. Vincent Tan makes a point of watching every match, however, so it would have been no surprise if initial contact was made to these shores from Malaysia in the wee small hours.

Unfortunately for Bulut, it's sacking season. He is now the sixth manager out of 11 under Vincent Tan to depart in the window between September and November. When asked about the prospect of being fired by Tan, Bulut said in good spirit: "For him it will not be something new I don't think!"

He spoke like a man resigned to his fate following the match, with the result consigning the Bluebirds to their worst start in 94 years.

Not since the start of the 1930/31 season have Cardiff gained only one point from the opening six matches.

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There are other owners with itchy trigger fingers wouldn't be surprised to see another go after next weekend?

There are other owners with itchy trigger fingers wouldn't be surprised to see another go after next weekend?

The Championship is notorious,Allan; but for us, it was a wholly justified decision that the vast majority of supporters were happy with…

I note Mehmet Dalman was not mentioned in any reports of the sacking process; just Vincent Tan and KenChoo…

Telling indeed, as I was told a couple of weeks ago that he and Tan were at loggerheads again…

One ‘for’ and one ‘against’ Erol Bulut…?

Seems very likely to me; and only ever one ‘winner’

There are other owners with itchy trigger fingers wouldn't be surprised to see another go after next weekend?

The Championship is notorious,Allan; but for us, it was a wholly justified decision that the vast majority of supporters were happy with…

I note Mehmet Dalman was not mentioned in any reports of the sacking process; just Vincent Tan and KenChoo…

Telling indeed, as I was told a couple of weeks ago that he and Tan were at loggerheads again…

One ‘for’ and one ‘against’ Erol Bulut…?

Seems very likely to me; and only ever one ‘winner’

Chris did read dalman involved but your right tan probably avoided dalman considering bulut was his choice.... not sure why people make big thing about how many managers we've had when average life span is 9mnths in championship and several clubs near to the amount we've had in same time span.... only need look at Stoke situation ffs he'd won 2 games and still sacked!

There are other owners with itchy trigger fingers wouldn't be surprised to see another go after next weekend?

The Championship is notorious,Allan; but for us, it was a wholly justified decision that the vast majority of supporters were happy with…

I note Mehmet Dalman was not mentioned in any reports of the sacking process; just Vincent Tan and KenChoo…

Telling indeed, as I was told a couple of weeks ago that he and Tan were at loggerheads again…

One ‘for’ and one ‘against’ Erol Bulut…?

Seems very likely to me; and only ever one ‘winner’

If I was Tan I would have told Dalman to do the dirty work not Choo.

There are other owners with itchy trigger fingers wouldn't be surprised to see another go after next weekend?

The Championship is notorious,Allan; but for us, it was a wholly justified decision that the vast majority of supporters were happy with…

I note Mehmet Dalman was not mentioned in any reports of the sacking process; just Vincent Tan and KenChoo…

Telling indeed, as I was told a couple of weeks ago that he and Tan were at loggerheads again…

One ‘for’ and one ‘against’ Erol Bulut…?

Seems very likely to me; and only ever one ‘winner’

Chris did read dalman involved but your right tan probably avoided dalman considering bulut was his choice.... not sure why people make big thing about how many managers we've had when average life span is 9mnths in championship and several clubs near to the amount we've had in same time span.... only need look at Stoke situation ffs he'd won 2 games and still sacked!

I agree with you regarding the number of managers we've had. I don't find it that concerning, it's the way things are nowadays.

Bulut would still be in a job if we had even made a slightly below average start to the season, say 2 wins and a draw from our opening 6 matches. But 5 losses out of 6 and 1 win out of our last 10 league games left him in an untenable position. He just had to go.

Not sure what the truth is but I was told MD did the firing something he didn’t enjoy having to do.

There are other owners with itchy trigger fingers wouldn't be surprised to see another go after next weekend?

The Championship is notorious,Allan; but for us, it was a wholly justified decision that the vast majority of supporters were happy with…

I note Mehmet Dalman was not mentioned in any reports of the sacking process; just Vincent Tan and KenChoo…

Telling indeed, as I was told a couple of weeks ago that he and Tan were at loggerheads again…

One ‘for’ and one ‘against’ Erol Bulut…?

Seems very likely to me; and only ever one ‘winner’

Chris did read dalman involved but your right tan probably avoided dalman considering bulut was his choice.... not sure why people make big thing about how many managers we've had when average life span is 9mnths in championship and several clubs near to the amount we've had in same time span.... only need look at Stoke situation ffs he'd won 2 games and still sacked!

I agree with you regarding the number of managers we've had. I don't find it that concerning, it's the way things are nowadays.

Bulut would still be in a job if we had even made a slightly below average start to the season, say 2 wins and a draw from our opening 6 matches. But 5 losses out of 6 and 1 win out of our last 10 league games left him in an untenable position. He just had to go.

Definitely time to go simply because he wouldn't change a failing system? If you believe him the players were simply not adearing to game plans but got to question what plans were and why wouldn't players do it? Saturday was worst I've seen for not getting ball forward normally we do get to final third more often than opposition but not Saturday and leeds were very poor side.