A new contract for the head coach is close
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic celebrates the win over Manchester United(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Sergej Jakirovic expects to be able to put pen to paper on a new Hull City contract very shortly.
The Tigers are keen to tie down their head coach to a new and improved deal as he begins his second season with the club and there have been reports that a new three-year contract extension has been agreed.
It comes after the Bosnian’s enormously successful first year in East Yorkshire, in which he took City from a team expected to struggle in the Championship, to the Premier League.
On top of that, Jakirovic has led the club to wins in their opening two top flight contests to put the Tigers back on the map when it comes to world football.
It’s little wonder the club are keen to tie him down then, and Jakirovic plans to put pen to paper soon.
“I will sign very soon,” the Tigers boss said. “Not yet. Easy decision since day one.”
Jakirovic’s main priority right now is to integrate 18 summer signings into his squad, with six new additions coming on deadline day.
It means a raft of players could well be set for debuts this weekend when City host Aston Villa at the MKM Stadium, and giving his appraisal on what was a hectic window for the club, Jakirovic said: “Finally finished, thank God. Now we can concentrate on our jobs.
“I am pleased because we have worked very hard the last two months. A lot of calls, negotiations, [we were linked with] 150 players that we tried to bring. Also we had always the plan to bring quality that can improve our team.
“We lost 12 players from last season so we needed these players. They are very good, potential, young, with what we’re looking for hunger and ambition. I think in the future they will be great benefit for our club.
“We had our shortlist but in this business it’s always something new, people were coming to us especially after two victories at the start of the season, they start to call us the agents and the players.
“We try to bring better players than what we have because it’s always about quality, if it’s a similar player that we have in the building then what’s the point? We try to improve and add quality to be a better team.”
On a manic deadline day specifically, the 49-year-old added: “Three of the six we worked on them the last two months, it’s about finance always, club to club, club to agents or players.
“This is why we signed six on the last day. I’m happy with that and we look to forward right now.”