Cardiff City: Erol Bulut agrees new deal to stay

Erol Bulut is set to remain as Cardiff City manager after agreeing a new deal with the Championship club, BBC Wales Sport has learned.

An agreement on Bulut staying has been reached in principle.

Legal contracts are still to be signed, but the club are set to make an announcement within the next few days.

Bulut’s previous contract had been set to expire this summer after he took charge at Cardiff on a one-year agreement in June 2023.

He has been discussing a new deal with the Welsh club since owner Vincent Tan sanctioned the negotiations in late April.

Despite speculation linking him with a number of other jobs, the 49-year-old has now committed to Cardiff.

Bulut’s new deal is reward for the progress Cardiff made during 2023-24.

After relegation battles in each of the previous two campaigns, the Bluebirds finished 12th in Bulut’s first year in charge and for a while looked like potential play-off contenders.

The former Fenerbahce boss is a popular figure among Cardiff’s fans, even if his style of play was criticised at times during his first year at the helm.

Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman had been keen for Bulut to remain in charge, with Tan – who has the final say – giving his backing to the idea shortly before the regular Championship season came to an end.

Bulut’s successes were achieved despite the fact that Cardiff were only able to sign players on loan or free transfers in last summer’s transfer window because of an EFL embargo.

In January 2024, Bulut had limited funds at his disposal because of profit and stability rules.

Bulut said on numerous occasions during his debut season in English football that he would be interested in signing a new deal with Cardiff.

It is believed he was looking for assurances over the club’s future plans both on and off the field during the contract negotiations.

The the length of the deal on offer has also been suggested as a reason for the delay in reaching an agreement.