Exclusive: Hull move swiftly to bring in Brown's successor

City are looking to make a short-term appointment until the end of the season following Phil Brown's surprise dismissal.

The Yorkshire Post understands five names were initially on the Tigers' shortlist only for Alan Curbishley to last night rule himself out of the running.

Gary Megson, another on the club's radar, is also believed to have rejected an approach due to wanting a longer-term contract – leaving Iain Dowie, Terry Venables and Mark Hughes from Hull's original wishlist.

Sources on the south coast have indicated Portsmouth's Avram Grant is another possibility, though Pearson having come close to appointing Dowie at the KC Stadium in 2006 – when, ironically, Brown got the job following a good run of results in temporary charge – suggests the former Crystal Palace manager is the leading candidate.

Tigers chairman Pearson last night declined to comment on the identity of the club's targets, though he did reveal an appointment is imminent.

He said: "We have got four or five names in mind and we are working through that list. The process, as I am sure you can imagine, is having to be done speedily.

"We have got people who are up for the challenge, which does not surprise me. This is a great opportunity to manage in the Premier League and to make a mark by keeping Hull City up.

"We want an experienced manager, both in terms of having managed in the Premier League and having won survival battles. We need someone who can come in and turn round results.

"It also has to be someone who can be operational quickly as we have not got the time to get involved in discussions over compensation.

"With that in mind, by close of play on Tuesday we hope to be able to make a decision. The board at Hull is very small and that aids the process, allowing us to hopefully reveal the identity of our new manager on Wednesday.

"I would imagine the appointment being until the end of the season when all parties can re-assess."

Brown's two-and-a-half year reign at the KC Stadium was brought to an end after the Tigers slipped to second bottom in the Premier League on the back of four straight defeats.

The 50-year-old is understood to have been left shocked by the decision, which was taken on Sunday by Pearson and owner Russell Bartlett.

Brown, who had 15 months to run on a contract that is believed to have paid him a seven-figure per annum salary, has been officially placed on gardening leave by Hull ahead of negotiations over the size of his pay-off getting underway.

Assistant manager Brian Horton and first team coach Steve Parkin will again take training this morning, though with the club determined to make a quick appointment the pair's future remains shrouded in doubt.

Explaining the thinking behind the decision to sack Brown, Pearson said: "The decision was made on Sunday and it was not one we made lightly.

"The bottom line is we have not taken any points from the last four games and only won five games in a year. That is not good enough. Our decision did come as a surprise to Phil when he was informed on Monday morning.

"We want 13 or 14 points from the final nine games, and feel that can be best achieved with a fresh face and fresh impetus. It is a roll of the dice, I admit that. But we have to try everything to try and stay in the Premier League. Results have not been good enough and we have to turn them round quickly.

"There are six or seven fixtures in the run-in, and particularly some of our home fixtures, where we feel points are there for the taking.

Pearson, who has repeatedly warned of the dire financial consequences of relegation, added: "I am sure the players are fighting for the manager and the club, but the bottom line is it (Arsenal) was the fourth straight defeat and the performance at Everton (in a 5-1 defeat) was abject."

Brown, who took charge in 2006 when City were 23rd in the Championship, was unavailable for comment, though he did release a statement via the League Managers' Association.

It read: "I am obviously very disappointed with the club's decision and the fact that I will now not have the opportunity to secure Hull City's status in the Premier League for a third consecutive season.

"Although I am extremely sad to be leaving Hull City, I am very proud of my achievements during my time as manager, especially having led the team into the top flight of football for the first time in the club's 104-year history and ahead of schedule."