Ruben Selles admits his exit as Hull City coach came as a surprise after guiding the Tigers to Championship safety on the final day of the season with a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.
Selles has kept a dignified silence since Acun Ilicali decided to make a change in the aftermath of City’s final-day escape at Portsmouth, avoiding relegation on goal difference.
The Spaniard was moved out, with Bosnian boss Sergej Jakirovic eventually coming in to replace him ahead of the new Championship campaign.
Selles has not had to wait long to get back into management, arriving at Sheffield United after Chris Wilder’s second stint at Bramall Lane came to an end.
Six weeks on from being told he was no longer the manager by sporting director Jared Dublin, Selles has spoken for the first time about seeing his six-month stint at City come to an and two weeks after the campaign finished.
“Yes, it was a surprise, at the time, because obviously everyone wanted to get the job done (safety) a little bit earlier, and we all agreed (with the board),” he told ITV.
“I think we did more than enough with the average of points, with the way that we do things, to just keep the club in the category (Championship earlier).
“Even on that final day (af Fratton Park), the way that we managed the team and the way that the team behaved, it was top. It was knowing exactly what to do every single moment, just to get the target on our side.
“I was surprised (about leaving), but, as I always say, there are non-controllables in your life that you have nothing to say sometimes, and that was the case, so the club decided to move forward and then try to find a new manager. We accepted that and tried to move forward.”
City’s former boss is due for an MKM Stadium reunion in what will be the Tigers’ fifth home game of the campaign, when Selles’ Blades arrive in East Yorkshire on October 4. The return in the Steel City is pencilled in for April 11.
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