Cardiff City have named former Fenerbahce boss Erol Bulut as their new manager.

Bulut, 48, replaces Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi, whose short-term contract was not renewed at the end of last season even though he steered the club to Championship safety.

The appointment completes a global search for a successor to Lamouchi.

"Erol's enthusiasm and hunger for success impresses me greatly," said Cardiff owner Vincent Tan.

"When we spoke, it became clear that his intensity and hard work ethic matched the core cultural traits that I want our club to return to.

"His excellent record in European football represents a standard of managerial experience that we have not had at Cardiff City before.

"His experience in this field, I hope, will allow us to attract a higher profile and standard of player in the coming years."

Cardiff have not disclosed the length of Bulut's contract.

They had had also considered former Watford manager Oscar Garcia, and were also linked with the likes of Nathan Jones and Vitor Campelos, who has impressed with Portuguese club Chaves.

Bulut has been a manager for six years, but the move to Cardiff will see the former Turkey Under-21s international work outside his homeland for the first time.

He started his coaching career at Yeni Malatyaspor in 2017 before taking over at fellow Super Lig club Alanyaspor in 2019.

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Bulut's Alanyaspor side were beaten finalists in the Turkish Cup in his one season at the helm.

He moved to Fenerbahce - where he had spent four years as a player - in the summer of 2020, but departed in March 2021 with his team third in the Turkish top flight.

Bulut was soon back in management with another Super Lig club, Gaziantep, where he was in charge for 18 months before leaving following a disappointing run of results in January 2023.

Born in Germany, Bulut began his playing career at Eintracht Frankfurt before joining Fenerbahce, where he won a league title in 1995-96.

He then rejoined Eintracht Frankfurt and had spells on loan at Trabzonspor and Adanaspor before moving to Greek club Panionios, then returning to Turkey with Bursaspor.

A left-wingback, Bulut's nomadic career continued as he had spells at 1860 Munich, Olympiakos - where he won two Greek league titles and one cup - and Ukrainian side Metalurh Donetsk.

He returned to Greece for spells with Olympiacos Volos, OFI Crete and Veria before hanging up his boots in 2012.

"This summer allowed us to consider applicants for the manager's position from across Europe and, having taken our time with the process, I'm extremely confident that we have chosen the best candidate to take us forward," Tan added.

"Erol has vast experience both as a player and as a manager, having played Champions League football and managed European sides across 200 league games to date.

"This level of experience is needed at this time and I think will prove invaluable to the squad."

Lamouchi's departure from Cardiff was announced on 17 May after the former Nottingham Forest boss held talks over future plans with Tan.

Lamouchi was one of three Bluebirds managers last season, following Steve Morison and Mark Hudson.

The Welsh club finished just one place above the relegation zone, five points clear of 22nd-placed Reading, who were were deducted six points by the EFL for breaching the terms of an agreed business plan.

It was Cardiff's lowest finishing position since they were promoted to the second tier in 2003.

There are four of us. The number never grows. Sports Babble itself doesn't grow, or change.

The club is stuck on re-wind repeat.

Much as I've enjoyed doing this, and there are some lovely people on this site, is there really any point?

I'm old. I'm increasingly sure that I'll never see Chesterfield back in the EFL.

Shall we stop? I don't want to join the idiocy of Bob's Board either - that's certainly not my intent.

So this final looming ever closer and kicking off tomorrow at the bizarre time of 5.30pm - bad show SFA, should've stuck to the favoured 3.00pm KO that suited all parties. Anyway, Ange and co fully focused on the ultimate prize of another Scottish Cup, but a world record "treble" achievement, one of 8 x "trebles" if they are successful. I think Ange knows what his starting line-up will be after testing things out v the Dons last weekend. I reckon this is a potential 4-0 or 5-0 victory for the Hoops - depends very much if ICT can "hang in there" during the early stages of this match when Celtic will likely "go for the jugular" and try to party as early as poss. As usual, bad refereeing could play a part in causing some probs for the Hoops although all players will be well primed to be careful and aware of that threat.

Brentford have signed midfielder Ethan Brierley from Rochdale for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal, with the option of a further year.

The 19-year-old came through Dale's academy, making 45 senior appearances during his time at the club.

He will now join Brentford's B team in order to continue his development, the Bees said following his signing.

"He played for a side that have had a difficult season, but he was able to flourish," boss Neil McFarlane said.

"We're hugely excited to play a role in the next stage of his development. He is an all-round midfielder who will handle the ball and he's somebody we will look to improve, as we do with all of the players who step foot in the building."

Brierley made 25 league appearances for Rochdale in 2022-23, during a season when the club were relegated from the English Football League to the National League.

Steve Cotterill is set to resign as manager of League One club Shrewsbury Town, BBC Radio Shropshire reports.

The 58-year-old was appointed in November 2020 and leaves after Town finished 12th this season, 18 points outside the play-off places.

Shrewsbury were eight points off the top six with 10 games to go, but lost eight of those matches as any hopes of a late promotion charge faded.

It is understood Cotterill has not been sacked, but has chosen to leave.

The former Birmingham and Bristol City boss missed the second half of the 2020-21 season with Covid-19 pneumonia, which saw him spend 33 days in hospital and later say he was "lucky" to still be alive.

Cotterill's impending departure comes a month after Shrewsbury chief executive Brian Caldwell left the club after seven years in the role.

At the time, Cotterill said his reaction to Caldwell's exit was "sadness".

He told BBC Radio Shropshire: "The club has lost a good guy. I will miss him without a shadow of a doubt.

"When I came here two and a half years ago, the chairman said he wanted me and Brian to work closely together - and we did just that. He was very supportive, especially when I had Covid."

MK Dons have agreed a deal to re-sign midfielder Alex Gilbey.

The 28-year-old will officially become new boss Graham Alexander's first signing when his contract with Charlton Athletic expires at the end of June.

Gilbey, who made 105 appearances for MK Dons between 2017 and 2020, spent last season on loan with Stevenage.

He told the club website: "As soon as I found out there was interest, I wanted to get this done because I wanted to come home and come back to the club."

Gilbey has helped MK Dons and Stevenage go up from League Two and is eager to make it a hat-trick of promotions from the fourth tier of English football.

"I absolutely loved my time here before," he added. "I'd say they were three of the best years of my career so far. I feel like I have some unfinished business to take care of and I want to help the club get back to where it should be."

Stockport County have released Phil Bardsley, Jacob Davenport, Chris Hussey and Ryan Johnson following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season.

Johnson, 26, made 55 appearances for the club and helped them to win the National League title in 2021-22.

Former Manchester United, Sunderland, Stoke and Burnley defender Bardsley made just three appearances after joining on a free transfer in December.

The 37-year-old had donated his salary to the club's community trust.

Hussey joined in September on a deal until the end of the season, following his release by Port Vale, while Davenport joined in February having left Lincoln.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe has triggered a one-year extension - the 35-year-old has made more than 300 appearances for Stockport.

Neill Byrne and Bobby Jones have been offered new deals by the Hatters following their League Two play-off final defeat by Carlisle at the weekend.

"Collectively, we took ourselves very close to a historic second successive promotion. It wasn't to be, but there will be achievements, memories and friendships that outlast this season," director of football Simon Wilson said.

https://www.wba.co.uk/news/club-statement-ron-gourlay

Good news or bad news. Is it rats leaving?

DD#No1

https://www.westbromnews.co.uk/2023/05/3...-corberan/

https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/ne...mean-a-lot

Well done that man after another long footie season of effort and resolve. I just wish he had a natural ability to score easy goals as well.