Time will tell, says Mike Phelan as he looks to replace Steve Bruce at Hull City

The former Manchester United assistant manager is keen to take over from Bruce, who quit the club on Friday just three weeks before the start of the Premier League season.

Phelan watched as Hull beat Scunthorpe 2-0 in a pre-season friendly at Glanford Park on Saturday and admitted he wants the vacant job at the KCOM Stadium.

“I want to be a manager. I don’t really see why I shouldn’t want to be a manager. Time will tell. That decision doesn’t sometimes come down to you.

“I’ve had a small chat and I was asked if I would carry on being in charge for now.

“My job is no different to what it has been except now I’m stood on the touchline in games doing my bit.”

Shaun Maloney and Abel Hernandez scored for Hull as fans vented their frustration against club owners Assem and Ehab Allam.

Bruce was interviewed for the England job, which went to Sam Allardyce, and Phelan believes things had become too much for him with Hull yet to sign a senior player since beating Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in the play-off final in May.

Burnley officials have apologised to Bradford City after one of their supporters was ejected from Saturday’s pre-season friendly at Valley Parade following an alleged racist incident.

The Premier League club have confirmed a visiting fan was ejected after a Bradford player reported the individual to the match officials, claiming he had been repeatedly racially abused.

The supporter has denied the allegations, but other witnesses have backed up the complaints of the player involved.

Another fan left voluntarily and no arrests were made but, in a statement yesterday, Burnley offered an apology.

“We will now be working with the police and Bradford City FFC, who have CCTV footage of the incident, to hold a full investigation and identify the persons involved, when action will be taken accordingly.”

Premier League newcomers Burnley recorded a 4-1 victory, with Andre Gray scoring a brace.