Portsmouth's Championship rivals hold talks as breakthrough made in manager search

Pompey's Championship rivals Cardiff City look set to make a decision

It's been 54 days since the Bluebirds sacked Erol Bulut following a winless start to the season. Cardiff had picked up one point from six league games, scoring just one goal. It was the worst start to a season in 94-years, and Bulut had left with the club bottom of the league.

Former Watford coach Omer Riza was placed in interim charge, and he has overseen first-team proceedings ever since. He's been in charge for nine games, overseeing four wins, two draws, and three defeats, including a 2-0 success over Pompey towards the end of October.

According to WalesOnline, Riza has flown to Malaysia to hold talks with their owner Vincent Tan. They say that Riza has prepared like he is to be given the job on a permanent basis. Riza's meeting with Tan will be the first time the two have met, but they have held chats after every game.

The visit to Southeast Asia perhaps hints that it is Riza will get the job, in what will be his first senior management job in professional football. Riza had previously been the manager of non-league side Cheshunt, lasted little over a year.

He was also manager of Leyton Orient, but oversaw the O's relegation to the National League during a caretaker spell. Riza for six-years worked as a coach at Watford, and managed their under-23s team, before being promoted to Valerien Ismael's backroom staff. Following Ismael's sacking in March 2024, Riza joined the coaching staff of Cardiff in July 2024, and he will now be tasked with turning Cardiff's fortunes around.

A 3-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers coupled with Pompey's win aaginst Preston North End has John Mousinho's men just three points behind the Welsh side, but they will have to overturn a three goal deficit as well. Pompey play Cardiff at Fratton Park in the reverse fixture in February 2025.