Cardiff City look prepared to take their time in their search for a fifth new manager in the space of three years.
But it is thought some planning on who to succeed Erol Bulut had already taken place before the decision to sack the 49-year-old just eight games into a new two-year deal.
The Bluebirds relieved Bulut of his duties following Sunday’s defeat by Leeds United, a result that left them bottom of the Championship table with just a point and a goal to their name.
The previous weekend’s loss at Derby County had seen some in the club’s hierarchy readying themselves for a change.
It had seemed the former Fenerbahce boss would be given until next month’s international break to turn things around, before Saturday’s limp 2-0 defeat sealed his fate.
Instead, that time looks to be afforded to first-team coach Omer Riza to take the team while moves are stepped up for a successor.
Riza – who has been named Cardiff’s interim manager, rather than caretaker – will prepare the side for Saturday’s game at Hull City.
The 44-year-old was brought in by the club in the summer after leaving Watford where he had worked in the club’s academy before becoming assistant first team coach. A former Arsenal forward during Arsene Wenger’s time at the club, Riza has also worked with England’s youth teams.
With a past track record of promoting assistants, the prospect of Riza keeping the job until the end of the season cannot be ruled out should he impress.
The club, though, are expecting significant interest in the role.
Chief executive Ken Choo is said to be leading the hunt having begun to make some early inroads to identifying potential candidates when the possibility of Bulut departing became apparent.
It remains to be seen if that includes some of the early bookmakers’ favourites, including Steven Schumacher – axed by Stoke City last week and the former Plymouth manager seemingly ticking many boxes for what Cardiff are looking for.
Former Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe and Championship-experienced Gary Rowett are also in the early betting, as is Rob Page although the former Wales manager is not thought to have been on the Bluebirds’ radar to this point.
Cardiff are known to admire former Newport County manager and current Wales assistant James Rowberry, who previously worked under Neil Warnock, Neil Harris and Mick McCarthy during a lengthy coaching association with the Bluebirds.
It is thought the highly regarded 39-year-old was approached by Cardiff about returning in a coaching capacity over the summer before remaining in his role as head of elite coaching with the Football Association of Wales. Appointed to Craig Bellamy’s backroom staff only last month, it remains to be seen whether he wants to walk away from the international stage for a second crack at club management should the Bluebirds call.
Former Leeds number two Cameron Toshack is another who has had previous contact with the club, the son of club legend John and a former player himself having been the subject of interest in roles at second-tier clubs.
There have also been previous admiring glances at Freyr Alexandersson, manager of Cardiff’s Belgian ‘sister club’ KV Kortrijk.
The 41-year-old from Iceland was reported earlier this year to have had previous discussions with Cardiff’s management and had ambitions of working in British football, adding that he “would love to coach Cardiff”.
A former manager of the women’s national side in Iceland, as well as assistant with the men’s team, Alexandersson led Lyngby Boldklub to the top-flight and survival in Denmark, before saving Kortrijk from relegation having arrived with just 10 points on the board from the opening 20 games.
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan remains a significant shareholder at Kortrijk with several players having been loaned from south Wales to the Belgian team.
Closer to home, boyhood Bluebird Nathan Jones has made no secret of his desire to lead the club he served as an apprentice.
From Blaenrhondda, Jones has twice had successful spells at Luton Town either side of difficult tenures at Stoke in the Championship and Southampton in the Premier League. He is currently at League One Charlton who have made an impressive start to the new campaign and would certainly understand the desire of the club’s fanbase for a more front-foot approach to games after frustrations with the caution showed under Bulut.
Cardiff, though, are willing to consider their options as they look to both pull away from the foot of the Championship, and try and finally find the right fit for manager.