Cardiff City legend Sean Morrison makes feelings clear on manager position as Chris Sutton says 'be fair'

Cardiff City legend Sean Morrison believes Omer Riza has passed his audition to become permanent managed "with flying colours" as the wait goes on for news regarding his future.

Riza took interim charge of Cardiff 51 days ago following the sacking of Erol Bulut, who had overseen the worst start to a league campaign in the club's 125-year history. Suffice to say, the only way was up.

But credit to Riza, who has overseen four wins, two draws and three losses from his nine games in charge, with Bluebirds players having thrown their backing behind him in pre- and post-match interviews.

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And City icon Morrison, who captained the club to promotion on their last jaunt to the Premier League, has been hugely impressed by Riza's interim stint in charge.

Speaking during punditry duty for City's defeat by Blackburn Rovers on Sky Sports, he said: "When you look back before the last international break, it was a lowly position. He's come in and if this was his job interview, he's passed with flying colours.

"I went down to the Plymouth and Leeds games and the atmosphere at the Plymouth came compared to the Leeds game was massive, there's a real buzz. And the players seem to be playing with more freedom, creating more chances and scoring more goals and keeping clean sheets, which is good to see."

After the match, which saw Cardiff drop back down into the relegation zone, he added: "From the board's point of view, from the fans' point of view, you have to take into account the whole period he's been doing the job.

"The job he's done since he's come in has been phenomenal, the upturn in results, the way they've been playing, they've created more chances.

"He's disappointed with how they've played (against Blackburn), but on the whole, to get them to 15 points, everybody should be really happy. He's done a fantastic job."

Riza has had to work hard to win over supporters, many of whom needed convincing after previous examples of interim bosses being elevated to permanent manager having gone so badly. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

He has won over his fair share of the Bluebirds faithful, however two defeats in four days has doubtless proved a little damaging. Either way, former Blackburn, Celtic and England striker Chris Sutton has called for clarity either way.

While also on punditry duty at the weekend, Sutton said: "Like Sean said, if this is an audition, he's passed with flying colours. When are they going to make the decision whether to give him the job or not? How long is this going to rumble on for?

"I suppose Cardiff fans are looking at this and thinking, 'Just give him the job.'"

Sutton added that the uncertainty will only breed discontent and he believes the Cardiff hierarchy should be fair to Riza and let him know either way.

"Looking at it from the outside, there's uncertainty now. They're dithering, aren't they?" Sutton added.

"Now is the natural time, during the international break, where they have three or four days to say, 'You are our guy, Omer Riza', or, 'You're not.'

"They need to make a decision either way and be fair to him, because he's done an excellent job."

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EFL stalwart Curtis Davies, formerly of Aston Villa, Hull City and Derby County, believes now is the time for a decision, in order to give the manager, or Riza, a clear run at the next run of fixtures in that chaotic Christmas period.

"It's more the time you get in the international break. Because if you take over a team, this is the last chance you'll have to do any groundwork without it working towards the game," Davies said.

"If they are not going to make a decision at the start of the week, where they have someone in situ ready to go, that's the biggest problem. Regardless of it being Sheffield Wednesday (after the international break).

"If it's Omer Riza, brilliant. If it's going to be someone new they need that time to prepare the team moving forward."