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Cardiff interim boss can’t afford to think about long-term future

Cardiff City players after loss to Swansea

Steve Morison has claimed he’s not thinking about the Cardiff job on a permanent basis ahead of his first match in charge.

Mick McCarthy left Cardiff by mutual consent following a 2-0 defeat to Middlesbrough last weekend. Now, former Under-23 coach Morison is taking charge on an interim basis. He is expected to be in the manager’s seat for games against Stoke, Queens Park Rangers and Huddersfield.

Ahead of their first match-up against Stoke, Morison admitted he is not looking beyond those three games.

He told WalesOnline: “I am going to be the most boring man in the world now, I’ve not even thought about it!

“I’ve had so much go on in the last 24 or 48 hours that the last thing I need to worry about is what might happen on the back of Stoke, QPR and Huddersfield.

“It’s the first time I’ve been in the manager’s office! I’m not coming in here, I’ve kept myself in the coaches’ office with the staff.

We are just working really, really hard to get a result at Stoke.”

After retiring from football in October 2019, Morison was offered the under-23 job at Cardiff last February.

At the time, Morison admitted that the end goal is to land a first-team coach position.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live in February, the former striker said: “Oh yeah, of course. That’s the dream.

“That’s the journey I’m on, hopefully, and you have to take your steps and this is the next step in that.

“I need to wake up every morning with a purpose and something to achieve in life and I’ve got that now with the job at Cardiff and it’s a great job with a great bunch of lads.

Now, Morison finds himself in a strong betting position for a permanent job after only two years away from playing.

The former Wales international also admitted his odds will become even shorter if he wins all three games:

“I’m in the betting because I’m here now!

“If I win three out of three, like we’re planning on doing, then I’m going to be higher in the betting!

“Honestly, I’m not worried about it one little bit. I’m not interested in what people might say – I never have been and I never will be. I’ve got one sole focus and that is getting us a result on the weekend.”


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Morison admits pressure is on him

The interim manager has told Cardiff players that there is no pressure on their next fixtures.

As his first role in a first-team managerial spot, Morison believes all eyes will be on him.

“Often, a new voice – I’ve been in many dressing rooms when managers have been sacked and new managers have come in, often not a lot changes. It’s just a new atmosphere, putting a smile on their faces, getting them working.

“What I said to them is, ‘There’s no pressure on you guys now, the pressure is all on me, everyone is looking at me’. People are asking ‘Can he do it? What can he change? He’s only worked in the under-23s.’”

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