Hull City owner Acun Ilicali says progress over appointing a new manager continues to be made as the Turkish businessman looks to secure Ruben Selles’ successor after flying in specifically for talks on Wednesday.
Selles was relieved of his duties a week ago. Since the Spaniard’s exit from the MKM Stadium, Ilicali has been pushing forward with a host of interviews in a bid to get a deal thrashed out.
The City supremo was in London on Wednesday to hold more talks with potential candidates, alongside newly-appointed head of recruitment Martin Hodge and Mustapha Yokes.
Ilicali says his meetings in Mayfair this week have proved fruitful. Although he’s reluctant to commit to a firm timescale, he hopes it could be wrapped up in the next week, adding the caveat that clinching the right man can take a little longer than hoped and he’s prepared to be patient if needed.
“Yes, (we’ve come here to speed up the process),” Ilicali told Hull Live at his plush central London hotel. “My team is also here with me, and we had two manager meetings, which I came over for.
“Today was a beautiful day for me because I’m very happy about our interviews, and I think we are at a good point. Yes (we’ve made good progress). Today was an important day for us because I think we are at least two steps closer to our decision.”
The importance of the appointment is not lost on City’s hierarchy, and Ilicali knows he must get this one right after what has been an unsettling 12 months with two managerial departures and last summer’s recruitment issues.
Ex-Newcastle United midfielder Emre Belozoglu was interviewed last week but is no longer thought to be in the running. While former QPR, Rangers and Sunderland boss Michael Beale has impressed, it’s unlikely he will take charge at this stage. Ilicali says there is another candidate being kept under wraps, but one who has impressed and is keen to take over.
“I would say that I think it will take no more than one week,” said Ilicali, who celebrates his 56th birthday next Thursday. “In one week, I think we will come to a point with a manager, but I don’t think that he will be one that you have heard of.”
Understandably coy about the identity of those he has spoken to, Ilicali did confirm Emre and Beale were two of those.
“I don’t want to mention too much about the possibility of the managers because I don’t feel good when I’m talking about managers on behalf of the managers, like it is possible, it is not possible,” he said. “It is like me judging them. I believe all the managers we are talking to are very good managers. I think Emre is a top manager. Michael Beale, when you speak to him, you understand that he knows so much about the game.
“We have football minds in the club that will decide about this manager, and I cannot say at the moment to you that this one is like this or this one is like this, but what I can say is that I’m very hopeful to finish the deal in one week.
“Yes (there are other potential candidates), because you only hear about two of our candidates. At the moment, we have five and one of them looks day by day more suitable for our club, but none of you know the name,” he added with a wry smile.
While some fans are becoming frustrated that an appointment has not yet been made, Ilicali says getting the right man can be a complex task and will take as long as it takes.
“Don’t forget these deals are not easy deals,” he explained. “These decisions are not easy decisions. We also need to bear in mind that the more successful the manager is, the more budgets go up, which has to be like this. This is the rule of life. How successful you are, you are that much more valuable. When you prove your success, you have more budget (demands).
“This is another part that we have to meet in the middle with some managers, because I really appreciate their success. We also have to understand that this is the Championship and there are spending limits for us, so I don’t want to go too far from the spending limits, but of course, I appreciate their success.
“This is another thing we should also think about. It’s not only one side that we decide with a manager. Sometimes we are close to a manager, but then it comes too close to the budget with the team (and we cannot push beyond the limits).
“We are at a good point in some deals and in some interviews. In London, we made some more interviews, and we are coming to our decision step by step.”
The Tigers’ owner admits parting company with Selles was tough, given the former Reading boss guided the club to safety on the final day of a difficult season, but he says it was a decision he felt was the right one moving forward.
“Ruben is a fantastic guy, and I think he will be a very good manager, but, of course, you have to make choices,” Ilicali confessed. “So when we finished the season, we had to make meetings, meetings, meetings. In these meetings, I made it clear that what I want is the best for this club and for these beautiful people who are supporting Hull City.
“We have to be the decision makers. I’m the last one who will approve the decision. From our point of view, I felt now was the right time to change to give us the best possible chance of being successful next season, compared with this.
“I really appreciate Ruben’s success in making the team solid in the defence, organising the team, and of course letting us stay in the league. This is something very important. However, I’m sure that everybody will understand what I’m looking for when I say that this is what we were looking for. We want more convincing management for our team to work in the long term. We want to be stable, and that will help us go for success.
“I want success. Our manager has to deliver two things. First, results and then entertaining football for the fans. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like we have got both of them together so far. My aim is to have a team with good results plus entertaining football.
“Changing managers, of course, I wouldn’t like to do, but until we find the correct line to achieve success with these two specialities, unfortunately, we have had to change managers. I will be the happiest person to have a manager who shows a good team with good results.”