By Jacob Maddaford
Cardiff City midfielder Manolis Siopis insists he will remain at the club next season whatever happens to manager Erol Bulut.
The Greek international, 29 – who signed for the Bluebirds last summer on a free transfer from Turkish side Trabzonspor – has two years remaining on his current contract.
Siopis has urged Cardiff to resolve the uncertainty over Bulut’s future, but says he will not seek a move if the man who brought him to the capital is not given a new deal.
“I have two more years on my contract,” said Siopis, who has started 32 of Cardiff’s 40 Championship matches under Bulut this season.
“I’m good, although I don’t enjoy the weather. I like the league. I have a contract here. I’m professional. I will give my best every day.”
What Siopis would really like to see, however, is for Bulut to be shown some faith from the club with a contract extension into next season.
Manolis Siopis on Cian Ashford:
“I like a lot Ash [Cian Ashford]. The difference he has with other players, he takes the ball and you feel he’s been in the first team two or three years. He’s not afraid, he has confidence and he has amazing finishing.”#CardiffCity pic.twitter.com/vDm30gn5sR
— ccfcinsider (@ccfcinsiderr) April 4, 2024
At present, the Turkish boss is counting down his final six matches in charge with no confirmation that his tenure will be extended beyond his current first campaign.
Siopis added: “If you ask my opinion, we must know if he’s staying so they can make plans for next season. I want him to stay.
“It’s important, but it’s something only the owner can answer.
“I hope next year we can go for something better, because I don’t like to stay at a club without a target.
“If he [Bulut] stays or if he goes, I want the team to go for the play-offs next season.
“This year we had penalties [a transfer embargo in the summer] and even this year we are there [in play-off contention].
“I hope next year we can be better than this season. I don’t like to stay with a club with no targets.”
Cardiff City midfielder Manolis Siopis has urged the club to sort out manager Erol Bulut's future⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/q9CfJbKLUB
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) April 4, 2024
The uncertainty over Bulut’s position is mirrored within his playing squad with Karlan Grant, Josh Bowler, and Nat Phillips all due to return to their parent clubs at the end of the season.
That will leave some big holes that need filling, with Bulut having admitted he has yet to discuss recruitment for next season because of the uncertainty over his own position.
The Bluebirds host Hull City on Saturday with their opponents currently two points ahead of them in the table with a game in hand.
If Cardiff are to have any chance of keeping alive their faint hopes of securing a play-off place, they may need to win all six of their remaining games.
The latest from Erol on his future and his talks with Tan. Also Manolis Siopis on the uncertainty around the whole situation: "We must know."https://t.co/jdUGPyAHCx pic.twitter.com/SV8q9fStY2
— Glen Williams (@GlenWilliams12) April 4, 2024
Siopis added: “They (Hull) will have possession and they will want to have control of the game”.
“It’s similar to the game against Ipswich. If we are good in our plan, we don’t have a problem. We will see.”
https://twitter.com/CardiffCityFC/status/1775840740809245037?s=20
