Hull City begin the process of elimination to find Steve Bruce's successor

HULL CITY remain hopeful of appointing Steve Bruce's successor by next week as the club's owners prepare to get the interviews under way today.
Hull City caretaker manager Mike Phelan during the pre-season friendly match at Barnsley. Picture: Barry Coombs/PA.Hull City caretaker manager Mike Phelan during the pre-season friendly match at Barnsley. Picture: Barry Coombs/PA.
Hull City caretaker manager Mike Phelan during the pre-season friendly match at Barnsley. Picture: Barry Coombs/PA.

As revealed in The Yorkshire Post on Tuesday, the Tigers have drawn up a five-man shortlist after receiving more than 40 applications for the post.

Roberto Martinez, contrary to reports elsewhere claiming he had stolen a march on his rivals by impressing vice chairman Ehab Allam at a meeting last weekend, has not yet spoken to the club but that is set to change either today or tomorrow.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The former Everton and Wigan Athletic manager remains favourite but he faces competition with City understood to be considering serious interest from the continent as the Allams look to bring in an experienced figure.

GONE: Former Hull City boss, Steve Bruce, who left the club last Friday.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonGONE: Former Hull City boss, Steve Bruce, who left the club last Friday.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
GONE: Former Hull City boss, Steve Bruce, who left the club last Friday. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

That could rule out Ryan Giggs, who has been strongly linked with Hull along with another Manchester United old boy Roy Keane. Steve McClaren has expressed an interest but it is not believed that the 55-year-old former Tigers player has made the shortlist.

With the Premier League season just 16 days away, time is of the essence for the East Riding club – not least because of the lack of signings at the KCOM Stadium.

Talks have taken place between caretaker manager Mike Phelan – who has revealed his own desire to move into management – Ehab Allam and head of recruitment, Stan Ternent, over the on-going pursuit of a targets list drawn up before Bruce’s shock departure. Appointing a new manager, however, remains the priority at a club who yesterday revealed matchday prices for the 2016-17 campaign.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Prices will start at £9 for Category C games in Zones 1 and 2 of the KCOM Stadium, though these will only be available to concessions (senior citizens, under-18s and families) on a match-by-match basis. These zones – basically, the corner sections of the stadium – will go on priority sale to fans who fall in the concessionary bracket two weeks before the match day, with any remaining tickets in these areas placed on general sale a week later.

GONE: Former Hull City boss, Steve Bruce, who left the club last Friday.  Picture: Bruce RollinsonGONE: Former Hull City boss, Steve Bruce, who left the club last Friday.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson
GONE: Former Hull City boss, Steve Bruce, who left the club last Friday. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Zone 3 prices will range from £21 to £30, while Zone 4 – effectively much of the West Stand plus the central blocks of the East Stand – will start at £27 and rise to £33, depending on category of game. City have announced that 10 of their 19 home games will be category B. The opening-day visit of champions Leicester City is Category A.