Phil Brown sacked as Hull battle to stay in top flight

Curbishley is favourite to succeed Brown

Brian Horton and Steve Parkin will take charge of first team affairs ahead of Saturday's trip to Portsmouth.

A statement from the club read: "Retention of Premier League status is paramount and the board believes that a change in managerial direction is the correct option at this time."

Hull lost 2-1 at home to Arsenal on Saturday with Nicklas Bendtner scoring a last-gasp winner.

The defeat left the Tigers second bottom of the standings, three points from safety.

The statement from chairman Adam Pearson revealed the Hull board felt it had to act in a bid to keep the club in the top flight.

The statement continued: "The club will complete supporters up-to-date in respect of any managerial appointment but, in the meantime, Brian Horton and Steve Parkin will prepare the team for our important game at Portsmouth next Saturday."

Brown led the Tigers to promotion to the Premier League for the first time in the club's history through the play-offs in 2008.

They enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2008/09 season, but a poor run of results after Christmas meant it was not until the final day of the campaign that they ensured survival.

The current season has proved just as tough for the East Yorkshire outfit, who have lost their last four games.

The statement added: "We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Phil for the major success achieved during a period of four seasons in charge at the club and wish him every success for the future.

"Promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and retention of our status on the last day of the 2009 season are unique events in the history of Hull City AFC and both were achieved under Phil's stewardship during a period which will never be forgotten by all connected with the club."

Brown apologised to the Women's Institute on Friday after 50-100 women about to march across the Humber Bridge witnessed an altercation between Jimmy Bullard and Nicky Barmby.

Brown took over as manager of Hull in January 2007, succeeding Phil Parkinson, and kept them in the Coca-Cola Championship that season.

They finished one place and seven points above the bottom three.

The following season he led them to promotion as Dean Windass' goal earned them a 1-0 win over Bristol City in the play-off final at Wembley.

Former Hull striker Dean Windass said: "I feel very sorry for Phil. He's the most successful manager Hull have ever had.

"He was a great manager for me and a good coach as well. It's a sad day for Phil.

"He's done a fantastic job in the time he's been there. To take us (into the top flight) after 104 years was a great journey for us. All good things come to an end but he was a good friend and always will be."

Former chairman Paul Duffen believes the club are likely to already have Brown's successor "pencilled in".

"It's a sad, sad day in many ways but the stuff that Phil achieved at Hull City will always live in the record books, so many firsts," Duffen said.

"He's been resilient and consistent and done a fantastic job at the football club.

"These things rarely happen as knee-jerk decisions. Some of the bookies slashed the odds last week for Phil to be sacked and I'm sure there will have been conversations and movements going on in the background long before today.

"On the face of it you could say it's surprising with nine games to go when it's hard to make any real difference in terms of playing squad obviously, no windows available to change a side.

"It's probably a reflection of the fact that some of those unpleasant statistics, in terms of the time it's been since Hull won away and the building pressure coming into the run-in, has taken its toll maybe in terms of relationships between the training ground and boardroom.

"I would be surprised if there isn't a new manager already pencilled in. Brian and Steve are very capable but it still is disruptive not to have a permanent manager in place."

PHIL BROWN FACTFILE

1959: Born May 30, South Shields.

1978: Signs youth forms with Hartlepool.

1985: Joins Halifax after 210 first-team games for Hartlepool.

1988: Joins Bolton.

1994: Joins Blackpool after 334 appearances for Bolton and later joins coaching staff under Sam Allardyce.

1999: After returning to Bolton as assistant manager, takes over as caretaker following departure of Colin Todd. Reverts to assistant role after Allardyce takes over.

2005: Appointed manager at Derby.

2006: January - Sacked by Derby after disappointing seven months in charge.

October - Takes post as first-team coach at Hull.

December - Takes caretaker charge after sacking of Phil Parkinson.

2007: January - Appointed permanent Hull boss and steers club clear of relegation from Coca-Cola Championship.

2008: May - Leads Hull to promotion from Championship via play-offs, beating Bristol City in final at Wembley.

September - Hull cap superb start to life in Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Arsenal.

October - Follows up Arsenal win with victory at Tottenham; Brown named manager of the month for September.

December 26 - Conducts half-time team-talk on the pitch with his side 4-0 down at Manchester City. They go on to lose the game 5-1.

2009: May - After a dreadful run of results, Hull avoid relegation on the final day of the season, finishing one point above Newcastle despite losing their final game 1-0 at home to a second-string Manchester United side.

November - Two wins from the first 11 games of the season sees Hull 18th in the table and Brown under severe pressure.

2010: March 12 - Apologises to the Women's Institute after between 50 and 100 of their members witness the "unsavoury" public bust-up between Jimmy Bullard and Nick Barmby near the Humber Bridge following the 5-1 defeat by Everton.

March 13 - Nicklas Bendtner scores in injury time to give Arsenal a 2-1 win at the KC Stadium to leave Hull 19th in the table.

March 15 - Hull announce Brown has been "relieved of his managerial duties and placed on gardening leave with immediate effect".