It’s more than two weeks since Hull City’s season came to a positive end with their 1-1 draw at Portsmouth, which sealed their Championship survival.
While things might be calming down at other clubs, there’s no such luxury for those involved with City as the search for a new head coach continues.
Owner Acun Ilicali is continuing his summer search for a new boss for the second successive campaign,n and that process is being stepped up this week.
Though City’s season is over, there’s still plenty to be decided across Europe in the next few days, and that’s where we turn our attention to in the latest news round-up.
Acun staying put
There were reports which emerged on Sunday night in Turkey that Acun Ilicali could be set to step down as vice-president at Fenerbahce.
Social media was awash with rumours that Ilicali would resign from the position he took on last year, but sources close to the City owner say there is no truth to those claims.
Fenerbahce have two games remaining and have already conceded the Super Lig title to bitter rivals Galatasaray. Their Istanbul neighbours are eight points clear at the top. Fenerbahce are assured of a second-placed finish and will again go into the treacherous Champions League qualifiers later in the summer.
Racioppi wins the league
Anthony Racioppi was all smiles over the weekend as his FC Koln side won promotion back to the Bundesliga at the first time of asking. A 4-0 win over Kaiserslautern sealed the 2.Bundesliga title.
Unfortunately for the City goalkeeper, he wasn’t in the squad and has not played a single league game since moving to the club in January. His sole outing for Koln came in the Regionalliga West.
Koln have the option to make the deal permanent this summer but it’s not expected they will activate that clause and the 26-year-old will return to City this summer.
Rosenior misses out
After what has been a brilliant season for Liam Rosenior at Strasbourg, a dramatic late defeat to Le Harve saw Strasbourg’s European hopes crumble. RC started the day in the driving seat and could have qualified for the Champions League, but despite leading against struggling Le Harve, Rosenior’s side lost 3-2 after a stoppage penalty. Andrew Omobamidele came on in the 88th minute to try and claim the point needed to secure a European spot, but then gave away the penalty which was converted in the 99th minute after a lengthy VAR check.
That dramatic win kept Le Harve in Ligue 1 and saw Strasbourg finish seventh and miss out on goal difference with Luton pipping them at the final moment to secure Conference League football.
All is not lost for Rosenior, however. If PSG beat Reims in the French Cup final at the Stade de France on Saturday then Lyon will be promoted to the Europa League and Strasbourg will claim the Conference League berth.
Maloney on the move?
Former City man Shaun Maloney was sacked by Wigan Athletic in early March after winning just one in seven, and the Latics were languishing in 15th place.
Dundee narrowly avoided relegation from the Scottish Premiership on the final day on Sunday with a big 2-0 win at St Johnstone but sacked boss Tony Docherty along with his staff on Monday morning.
Maloney, who played for City in 2015, has been quickly linked with the vacant job at Dens Park having managed previously north of the border with Hibs, a spell which lasted just 19 games. During his playing career, the 44-year-old played under Gordon Strachan, who is the technical director at the Dark Blues.
Callum’s goodbye
Former City academy graduate Callum Jones posted a heartfelt goodbye, thanking the club for believing in him. Jones was one of five players released by the Tigers over the weekend.
“Released at 14, until 16 I wasn’t playing Football. At 18, I signed my first professional contract, bringing back my hunger and drive for the game. Thank you @hullcity for the memories & for believing in me. Looking forward to my new chapter. Thank you for everything,” he wrote on Twitter.
Warren’s doing his bit
Warren Joyce is Hull City royalty. Having played for the club with distinction, and then guiding the Tigers to their famous great escape in 1999. To Tigers fans, he needs little introduction and will always be held in huge esteem by City fans.
The legendary former City chief is now at Nottingham Forest and guided the Reds to the Premier League International Cup earlier this month.
Now, Joyce is hosting a charity golf day in a bid to raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK and Brain Tumour Research. You can find out more here about entering a team or supporting Warren’s great work right here.