- By Dafydd Pritchard
- BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium
image source, Huw Evans Illustration Agency
Errol Bulut has played and coached in countries such as Germany, Greece and Turkey
Cardiff City manager Errol Bulut believes the uncertainty over his position could affect the squad.
Bulut’s one-year contract expires at the end of the season and he has yet to open talks over a new contract.
Asked if the lack of clarity about his future might be a contributing factor, Bulut said: “It might be.”
The former Fenerbahce boss added: “I have no problem. I respect it from the board if they don’t come with a new offer.
“I’m focusing on my work until the end of the season. So far we haven’t had any communication about that, so let’s see.”
Bulut has overseen a significant improvement at Cardiff since taking over last summer.
Prior to the former Turkey under-21 international’s arrival, the Bluebirds had narrowly avoided relegation from the Championship in their previous two seasons.
However, under Bulut, Cardiff were consistently in the top half of the table and in contention for a play-off spot earlier in the campaign.
Their top-six aspirations have faded recently and, with seven games remaining this season, Bulut’s side are 11 points adrift of the play-off places.
Cardiff’s two most recent performances – back-to-back 2-0 defeats to Sunderland and arch-rivals Swansea City – suggest the players may lack inspiration as they head towards the end of the season.
Relegation doesn’t appear to be a realistic threat with the bottom three 14 points behind, but Bulut doesn’t want his players to just go through the motions in the latter stages of the campaign, even if they don’t have much to play for.
“Maybe they think so, but I don’t think so,” he said.
“I told them when they came in [to the changing room]”We can’t be comfortable because we have 53 points.”
“We still have seven games to play and we have to get as many points as we can.
“We can’t stop the season from now. Everyone has to come back from this performance and in the last seven games we have to give our best, for the fans first of all and for the club, also for themselves.
“There should be a change mentally when we’re on the field.”