Marco Silva is latest sap to take on Hull
Date published: Wednesday 4th January 2017 3:26
Former Olympiakos boss Marco Silva is understood to have been lined up to take over from Mike Phelan at Hull.
Portuguese Silva quit Olympiakos for personal reasons in the summer after guiding them to the Greek title in his one season in charge.
He also won promotion to the Portuguese top flight with Estoril before a brief time in charge of Sporting Lisbon.
Hull coaches Neil McDonald and Bobby Mimms, plus chief scout Stan Ternent have left the Premier League club.
The Tigers sacked head coach Phelan on Tuesday night and all three members of his backroom staff have followed him out of the KCOM Stadium.
“Following on from the departure of head coach Mike Phelan, the Tigers can confirm that assistant head coach Neil McDonald, goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms and chief scout Stan Ternent have also now left the club,” the club said on its official website.
“We would like to thank Neil, Bobby and Stan for their efforts during their time at the KCOM Stadium.”
Former Blackpool manager McDonald had only joined Hull’s coaching staff at the end of October, shortly after Phelan had been appointed as permanent manager.
McDonald had replaced Stephen Clemence, who had earlier left Hull to team back up with Steve Bruce at Aston Villa.
Hull appointed Mimms in November after previous goalkeeping coach Steve Walsh had also followed Bruce to Villa Park.
“Whoever it is will want to know what backing they’ll get in the transfer window,” former Hull captain Ian Ashbee told Press Association Sport.
“They’ve obviously got it all in place and have been discussing things. They need to get the new guy in sooner rather than later.
“He’s got good stock from overseas, but has no experience of the Premier League.
“It’s a difficult task even if he had the whole of pre-season to put his plans in place, but it would appear to be impossible now.”
Gary Rowett, sacked by Birmingham last month and replaced by Gianfranco Zola, was an early favourite with bookmakers for the new vacancy at the KCOM Stadium.
But Ashbee, who played in all four divisions for the Tigers during a near nine-year spell at the club, does not think Rowett will want the job.
“I don’t think Gary Rowett is going to take it,” Ashbee said.
“It’s a poisoned chalice. I think someone from overseas will be appointed. Someone who isn’t aware of what’s been going on.”
Tigers owner Assem Allam has presided over two promotions to the top flight and an FA Cup final appearance since rescuing the club from financial turmoil six years ago.
But the Egyptian-born businessman put the club up for sale in 2014 after the FA rejected his bid to change their name to Hull Tigers, a move which was vehemently opposed by the majority of Hull’s fans.
The Allam family has since come under increasing pressure from supporters, whose discontent with how the club was being run intensified following the departure of former manager Steve Bruce in July.
Bruce had grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of new signings after Hull had won promotion back to the top flight in May and Phelan had also expressed his frustration at the lack of incoming players.
The Allam family announced they hoped to sell the club to a Chinese consortium in September but the deal broke down, while several other consortiums have been involved in takeover talks without anything being finalised.
Ashbee claims Hull will only move forward when Allam finally sells the club.
“They should have gone at the end of last season in my opinion,” Ashbee added.
“One hundred per cent if the club is to move forward again and for the fans to come back and believe in their team like they have done for many years.
“The club needs those fans back on board and they need them back sharpish.”
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