Hull City have stepped up their efforts to bring in a replacement boss to replace Ruben Selles after the Spaniard was sacked on Thursday evening.
Selles guided City to safety on the final day of the Championship season two weeks ago but was relieved of his duties by owner Acun Ilicali after the Tigers’ owner decided to seek a change of approach.
No sooner had Selles met with sporting director Jared Dublin on Thursday to be met with his fate, and Ilicali was looking to secure a replacement he hopes could be in place within the next week or so, though that isn’t a fixed timescale.
The Tigers’ owner is thought to be aware of the need to move the process along quickly and have somebody in place sooner rather than later, and avoid a repeat of last summer which saw the club find themselves well behind the eight ball by the time the season started.
City have a shortlist of candidates for the role, which Hull Live understands has been whittled down to around three names, with interviews expected to continue over the weekend and into the early part of next week.
Discussions with potential new recruits have begun to take place with Ilicali, along with Dublin, head of recruitment Martin Hodge and head of international recruitment Mustapha Yokes.
As revealed by Hull Live on Monday, the quartet all met at Ilicali’s Istanbul offices on Tuesday to thrash out the situation with Selles’ future and strike a plan of action moving forward which has been expedited following Selles’ exit.
The Tigers have previously interviewed the likes of Alex Neil, who is now at Millwall after impressing the board, and spoken to Steve Cooper before he took over at Leicester City. Gary O’Neil and Rob Edwards could yet be managers of interest, while a host of Championship clubs are looking at Miron Muslic after almost guiding Plymouth Argyle to safety. Former Newcastle United midfielder Emre is another name Ilicali could look at again, having held a long-term interest and is keen to try his hand in management in England after enjoying a playing career on these shores.
City are not the only Championship club looking for a new manager ahead of pre-season, with relegated Southampton, West Brom, Norwich City, and QPR all managerless. Leicester City could join that list once the Premier League campaign finishes, with Ruud van Nistelrooy expected to move on. Sheffield Wednesday are another with doubts surrounding the future of one-time Tigers target Danny Rohl likely to leave Hillsborough.
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