Cardiff City interim manager Omer Riza hopes his "honest" meeting with club owner Vincent Tan in Malaysia will help him stay in the job.
Omer Riza: “I told Mr Tan, how much I respected him and how much I loved hearing of how well he has done in business.”
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.
Riza has been manager of Cardiff City since September and has had mixed fortunes.
Cardiff have gone from bottom of the Championship to 3rd from bottom in Riza’s nine games, but have slumped in their last two outings.
Omer Riza:
"For me it was really important we meet face to face. We’ve spoken a lot on the phone," said Riza.
"It was important for me he asked me to go over there. It wasn’t easy [in terms of travel] but we’ve done it. The conversations were very respectful and honest. I’m glad I went.”
“I told Mr Tan, how much I respected him and how much I loved hearing of how well he has done in business.”
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’ worst start to a season in the club’s 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 an improvement in form and playing style in some matches , with 14 points collected from 27 points in 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.
“Our football has improved and I told Mr Tan this and the players are all behind me and 90% of our fans.”
"I’ve loved every moment of it. I don’t want it to stop. The boys, the staff, the people around the club have been brilliant. We’ve achieve a lot in a short space of time," he said.
"We’re 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’t be that expectation. Obviously we want to win and be champions and go up to the Premier League but, I’ve said it all along, it’s the process that’s important.”
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