Hull City target Marco Silva could be in place for the weekend

The former Olympiakos boss has rapidly emerged as the surprise main contender to replace Phelan, with several reports suggesting that he will be announced as the club’s new manager later today on a six-month deal.

In a rare public statement, Tigers vice-chairman Ehab Allam confirmed that the club expect a ‘new management team’ in place ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup third-round tie with Swansea. Phelan’s assistant-manager Neil McDonald, goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms and chief scout Stan Ternent all left the troubled East Yorkshire outfit yesterday.

Silva quit Olympiakos for personal reasons in the summer after guiding them to the Greek title in his one season in charge.

The 39-year-old, who has limited English and no previous managerial experience in this country, also won promotion to the Portuguese top flight with Estoril before a brief time in charge of Sporting Lisbon.

Other names in the fray include former Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett, linked with the Tigers in the summer and ex-Inter Milan boss Frank de Boer, another on the club’s radar following Steve Bruce’s decision to leave in July.

Outlining the club’s intent to install a new team quickly, with Hull propping up the Premier League table after a run of one top-flight win in 18 matches since August 20, Allam said: “Despite the difficult circumstances, the team made a positive start to the season and money was made available to strengthen the squad ahead of the transfer deadline with a significant investment made in the signing of six new players.

“However, results have been on the decline since that time and although there have been some positive performances in recent weeks, we sit bottom of the Premier League and I felt now was the right time to take a fresh approach and give this club and squad of players the best possible chance of retaining Premier League status.

“I expect to have a new management team in place ahead of the weekend.”

Allam has also stressed his belief that with ‘two or three key additions’ this month that Hull can stave off relegation, despite the grave statistics which show that the club have taken just seven points from the last 54 available.

A horrendous looking fixture list which sees Hull take on Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in successive league matches after their next top-flight game at home to Bournemouth on Saturday week has added further potency to the beliefs of those many pundits who suggest that the Tigers are destined for a swift and immediate return to the Championship.

But Allam is certainly not throwing in the towel regarding Hull’s survival fight, especially if some key additions are made.

A largely chaotic summer transfer strategy saw Hull scramble around in a frenzied race against time to bring in signings right at the end of the August window.

Despite recruitment being made even more problematic by the club’s parlous league position and run of no wins in nine league matches, Allam retains hope.

He added: “I maintain the belief that the current squad, with two or three key additions during the current transfer window, is good enough to survive in this division.

“I acknowledge that our position in the table will make recruitment more challenging, however all of our efforts are now focussed on enhancing the existing squad with Premier League survival our priority.

“We recently activated the club’s option to extend the contracts of some of our key players for a further year.

“We feel that the nucleus of the current squad combined with some new additions during this important transfer window will give us the best possible chance of achieving survival in the coming months. “

Explaining the decision to sack Phelan after just 82 days and 15 matches in permanent charge, Allam added: “It was after a great amount of consideration that we took the decision to part 
company with Mike Phelan on Tuesday.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to Mike for his efforts during his period as head coach.

“Mike initially took on the role at a difficult time last summer, inheriting a small squad that had lost a number of players to injury, and with the transfer window already in full swing.

“He would also go on to lose a number of key back-room team members through no fault of his own.”