Hull City are set to confirm the arrival of Dean Holden to their new-look backroom staff after Sergej Jakirovic opted to bring in the 45-year-old.
Salford-born Holden has been working in Turkey recently as assistant boss at Adana Demirspor, but Hull Live understands he has agreed in principle to join City‘s coaching staff.
Holden has vast coaching experience since hanging up his boots, managing 41 times for Bristol City and 32 at Charlton Athletic, as well as having spells as caretaker manager at Oldham Athletic and Stoke City.
He arrived in the Potteries to be assistant to Michael O’Neill and was given the interim job following the Northern Irishman’s exit, but he then left the bet365 Stadium when Alex Neil arrived.
The former Oldham defender was also assistant to Steven Gerrard with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ettifaq before heading out to the Turkish Super Lig.
Following their relegation this season, Holden was offered the job by bosses at Adana, but turned it down with a desire to return to England, and is now expected to arrive at the MKM Stadium.
Jakirovic had been keen to bring in further help ahead of pre-season, and had two potential candidates to work with him, selecting Holden to join Marko Salatović, Marin Ivančić and Andjelo Roguljic. Goalkeeping coach Erbil Bozkurt remains part of the coaching staff, as well as club legend Andy Dawson.
City’s players return to full training on Monday, having had two days of testing at Cottingham on Thursday and Friday as they begin their pre-season campaign.
It’s understood City will play two behind-closed-doors training ground friendlies before they head out to Turkey for their seven-day training camp in Riva, at the headquarters of the Turkish FA, on July 13.
During that trip, the Tigers will play two games, likely against Super Lig opposition, before returning to England on July 20 to prepare for their first domestic friendly away at Stockport County, followed by a home meeting with Sunderland four days later. A home friendly on August 2 has been pencilled in, but the opposition has not yet been confirmed.
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