Hull job '˜not big enough' for Coleman, says Ricketts

FORMER Hull defender Sam Ricketts says the vacant manager's job at the club is not 'big enough' for Wales boss Chris Coleman.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Aug 2016, 14:49 BST
Updated 3rd Aug 2016, 15:54 BST
Wales manager Chris ColemanWales manager Chris Coleman
Wales manager Chris Coleman

On Tuesday the Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced it had turned down an approach from the Tigers to speak to Coleman, although subsequent reports have suggested the 46-year-old is interested in the role.

Coleman guided Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 this summer after signing a new two-year contract.

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Coventry’s Ricketts - who played for Hull between 2006 and 2009 and has 52 caps for Wales - told BBC Wales Sport on Wednesday: “I can’t see Hull being a big enough pull for Chris Coleman.

“I don’t think Hull is the right job for Chris Coleman and I don’t think it’s a big enough job for him to leave what he’s built at Wales.

“But if a job comes along which he feels he can’t necessarily turn down or thinks is too good an opportunity to turn down then I think that might be the only way for him to leave.

“I do believe that if Chris Coleman really wanted to become manager of Hull City I think he could force it.”

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Ricketts added: “Any club that sacks their manager or is looking for a new one will consider Chris Coleman.

“What Wales did in the summer has brought Chris Coleman as a manager to the forefront.

“I wouldn’t imagine this to be the last approach the Welsh FA get for their manager.”

Coleman has been in charge of Wales since 2012 and after he oversaw the country’s best-ever major tournament performance at Euro 2016, FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford admitted he ‘’can’t make him (Coleman) do the job’’.

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Newly-promoted Hull have been looking for a manager following Steve Bruce’s departure on July 22, with former Watford and West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola also among those being heavily linked with the position.

Reports in Italy on Monday said Zola, sacked by Qatari club Al-Arabi in June, had been the subject of an approach from the Tigers.

Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan is currently in caretaker charge, with the Hull squad having headed to Austria on Tuesday for pre-season friendlies against Caykur Rizespor and Torino.

The East Yorkshire club start their Premier League campaign at home to champions Leicester on August 13.

Hull did not comment when contacted on Wednesday.

Related topics:HullWalesTigers