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Hull City are believed to be set to sack manager Ruben Selles on Thursday despite the manager’s role in helping the team stay in the Championship on the final day of the season, according to reports.
The Tigers have endured a season to forget on the heels of sacking former manager Liam Rosenior after their seventh-place finish in the 2023-24 campaing.
But while Rosenior is enjoying a miraculous Champions League-place tilt with Strasbourg in Ligue 1 a year on, Hull were mired in a spell of unimpressive form for much of the season.
Tim Walter, who was appointed in Rosenior’s stead, was sacked in November after overseeing just 17 league games, the club hovering dangerously in the relegation zone.
But while there has been no major uptick in the side’s form under Selles, the head coach’s appointment in December steadied the ship in part and the club were able to stay up on the final day by virtue of goal difference.
However, despite ensuring that the club did not drop down a division, Hull owner Acun Ilicali is believed to be convinced that Selles should move on.
Hull City are set to confirm the decision to sack head coach Ruben Selles on Thursday
The side were able to stay in the Championship by the skin of their teeth on the final day
But Tigers owner Acun Ilicali is believed to have made the decision to move on his manager
As per BBC Sport, the Turkish entrepreneur has reached a decision over the head coach, and the news is set to be publicised on Thursday.
Selles joined Hull from fellow Championship strugglers Reading, on the heels of a stint at Southampton which saw him promoted briefly from caretaker manager to head coach.
After his side saw out the 1-1 draw necessary to remain in the division – and Luton Town lost their clash with West Bromwich Albion to confirm their future in League 1 – Selles admitted that the season had been a ‘really difficult one’.
‘From the first moment we arrived, our target has always been to keep the team in the division, to build a good platform for next season,’ Selles said.
‘We didn’t want to do it on the last day. We hoped we could do it before.
‘I’m proud of everyone, putting everything they have into the game. We went 1-0 up, then they equalise. Knowing the other results, (it was about) just managing the tempo of the game.
On the heels of their vital 1-1 draw with Portsmouth, Selles spoke of the pain fans had endured
But the manager himself was delighted with the outcome, calling their battle to stay up an ‘unbelievable feeling’
‘Today was one of those days that you need to show that you can cope with the pressure. The boys did it amazingly.
‘The fans were absolutely outstanding and that’s why, at the end, it was important we remember to enjoy those celebrations with them because as much as we feel that pain, they’ve been feeling that pain.
‘It was an unbelievable feeling.’
