Ruben Selles’ six-month spell as head coach at Hull City has been brought to an end by owner Acun Ilicali, less than two weeks after the season ended.
Their gutsy, stressful and nervy 1-1 draw at Portsmouth proved enough to secure the club’s Championship survival, with help from West Brom, who thrashed Luton Town 5-3 to relegate the Hatters.
The Spaniard won nine of his 26 league games in charge, drawing seven and losing 11. His side scored 26 and conceded 26, taking 33 points at a rate of 1.27 points per game. The neutral goal difference ultimately proved crucial in surviving, helped by a newfound defensive solidity bettered only by Leeds United, Burnley and Sheffield United.
Selles inherited a difficult situation when he took charge before Christmas. He watched from the stands as City were beaten 1-0 at home by Blackburn Rovers, a result which left the Tigers bottom of the table with 15 points from their opening 19 games – their sixth straight defeat and latest at home.
Not only did he take on a squad down on confidence and feeling the impact of Tim Walter’s failed tenure, it lacked quality in the top third of the pitch and two of the club’s big summer signings – Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi – had suffered ACL injuries, while Oscar Zambrano had been banned for a doping charge committed before he joined the club.
His first game was a 1-1 draw at home to Watford and that was backed up by a 2-1 defeat at Coventry City. His side led in both games before being pegged back.
City’s first victory under Selles came when Mason Burstow culled in a delightful winner to seal a 2-1 success before Christmas, and despite losing at Preston on Boxing Day, the year ended with a fine win at play-off-chasing Blackburn Rovers courtesy of Ryan Longman’s goal – he’s now a League One promotion-winner with Wrexham.
A pulsating 3-3 draw against Leeds United at the MKM Stadium came after a late home defeat to Middlesbrough kicked off the New Year, but the standout result of the campaign came late in January when Selles’ men won 3-0 at Sheffield United, inflicting a first home league defeat on the Blades. Unfortunately, Selles’ side could not build on that result and suffered continued setbacks after positive results, failing to win two games on the spin. It provided an unwelcome backdrop to the second half of the campaign.
The January transfer window was crucial with the likes of Matt Crooks, Joe Gelhardt, Eliot Matazo, John Egan, Nordin Amrabat, and Lincoln all coming in, while Louie Barry’s arrival was met with great excitement before he suffered a major knee injury just four games in.
Crooks’ goal at Pompey effectively kept City in the league, but Gelhardt’s five goals proved vital, as did Egan’s experience in providing some much-needed defensive solidity.
An away win at Sunderland gave City renewed belief but defeats at home to Stoke City and away at Cardiff City on the back of those wins, meant the Tigers were unable to drag themselves clear of danger.
Losing Matazo, who had started to shine with a terrific display in the win at the Stadium of Light, was a major blow, and injuries again hampered them.
An unbeaten run of four games leading into the international break, with vital home wins against Plymouth Argyle and Oxford United, coupled with a terrific away point at Bristol City with 10 men after Joao Pedro’s red card 90 seconds after his brilliant goal, created a five-point gap between them and the bottom three. That was cut to three following their fightback draw at West Brom, coupled with Derby County’s win at Plymouth Argyle. Unfortunately, throughout the second half of the campaign, City could not create and maintain more breathing space with a succession of inconsistent results, formed by a chronic lack of goals.
A turgid defeat to Luton Town immediately after the March break dragged them deeper into the mire, but they responded with a huge 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday courtesy of Charlie Hughes’ bullet header in the 93rd minute, which sparked wild scenes of celebration at Hillsborough after a game that resembled the most tepid of pre-season friendlies.
Yet again, Selles and his staff were unable to inspire a response the following Tuesday when his side produced a limp away display to lose at Watford. A draw with Coventry followed before another poor away display saw them beaten at Swansea City on Good Friday, albeit to a shambolic penalty decision given against Egan.
Easter Monday brought fresh light, and hope, with a 2-1 home win against Preston courtesy of a Joe Gelhardt brace of penalty kicks, but once again, City were unable to back that up, losing 1-0 at home to relegation rivals Derby County which sparked frustrating scenes at the end of the game.
That result plunged City into the bottom three with just one game to go, albeit in the unique situation of having their fate in their own hands. It also saw Selles cancel the club’s Player of the Season dinner.
And by hook or crook, the Tigers survived on goal difference, but will now face another summer of major upheaval as Ilicali searches for his fifth permanent manager since taking ownership of the club in January 2022 and a manager he believes capable of delivering what he wants.
After what happened last summer, with Walter’s tumultuous tenure coupled with mixed recruitment, much of which happened just before the season started, Ilicali must guard against the same happening again and make sure his appointment is swift and sensible.
Given how the past year has played out, fans will be nervously watching what happens next because the club has regressed badly over that period, and their concern is understandable. They’re worried about the trajectory over the past 12 months and what that means going forward.
The focus on style of play has to be shelved. Being successful in the Championship is about being organised, fit, disciplined and knowing how to get the best out of the players at your disposal to win games of football. The ability to get those characteristics from a manager should be at the top of the person specification.
The appointment immediately following Rosenior was huge, and that went badly wrong and is a key reason we are where we are now. This one is even more important, and with it, the level of recruitment over the summer to support the new man and ensure he isn’t left to start the season with two hands tied behind his back.
City are once again at a critical juncture under the ownership of Acun Ilicali. What happens next may well go one of two ways.