Selles, Neil, Jokanovic, Robins - What we know so far about Hull City's manager search

One week on from the sacking of Tim Walter, Hull City are closing in on the appointment of the man to replace the German, who lost his job after last Tuesday night's dismal 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

Discussions remain ongoing over the appointment of Walter's successor while at Cottingham; Andy Dawson and the club's coaching staff continue to prepare the players for the small matter of Saturday's massive Championship game against Blackburn Rovers as the Tigers look to halt their five-game losing streak.

Owner Acun Ilicali continues to lead the recruitment process as City look to appoint a second manager this calendar year, and one who can move them away from the bottom of the table before starting to look upwards in 2025.

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Here, we take a look at what we know so far about the ongoing managerial search....

Where are we at?

We're at the stage of getting it getting closer to completion, or so it feels like. Six interviews have taken place, and it's now about deciding which of those managers impressed the most and which one is the one to take City forward. Owner Ilicali was basically done yesterday, and given the perilous nature of the club's league position, he understands the importance of a swift appointment.

What's happening now?

Discussions between Ilicali, his team of staff - which includes head of recruitment Jared Dublin and Mustafa Yokes - continue and will be stepped up with the potential new manager. If that was to be Selles, then there would need to be talks with Reading over permission to formally speak to him, and subsequent compensation packages which could drag the process out further.

If it was a manager not in work, like Alex Neil, Steven Schumacher or Slavisa Jokanovic, for example, then the process could happen a lot quicker and, ultimately, cost Ilicali a lot less money. It's unclear at this stage what, if any, compensation would be due to get Selles out of a contract which runs until the summer of 2026.

As for the players preparing for a huge game on Saturday against Blackburn Rovers, Andy Dawson and the staff continue to prepare them for that 3pm showdown at the MKM Stadium and will do so until a new manager is in the door.

Who are the contenders?

There are a few, and as we now know, six have been interviewed. We believe Slavisa Jokanovic, Chris Hughton, and Steven Schumacher to have been on that list, while Ruben Selles is a person of significant interest to the Tigers, as is Alex Neil. John Eustace and Mark Robins has also been discussed by the club's hierarchy.

Selles has suffered through a turbulent spell at Reading, dealing with a host of off-field issues, not least trying to work under chaotic ownership and one who came worryingly close to buying Hull City a few short years ago. He is thought to be a manager City's owner rates highly, as well as those we've mentioned above.

What's the timescale?

As soon as possible, in a nutshell. Ilicali hoped the change in manager would spark an immediate reaction and potentially, a victory, at Middlesbrough, which would have afforded him a little more time. But Saturday's 3-1 reverse highlighted just how pressing the situation is and he wants it done before the weekend visit of Rovers, if possible.

Naturally, that process would happen a lot quicker if the incoming manager was out of work and could effectively start straight away. But if he's employed elsewhere, that may well make the process drag on a little further. The next 24/48 hours, you suspect, will not only be mildly fascinating but absolutely crucial.

Has Acun spoken?

He has. In his first address since Tim Walter's sacking, the Tigers owner spoke to Hull Live about the current situation and where things are at:

"We don't want to wait too long for this approach. It's not the time to lose time, I don't think. We have already done six interviews with very good, high-quality coaches. Our aim is to not leave too long (before an appointment) if we can. As soon as possible, we will make an approach.

"These are all important names, and I wouldn't be upset if any of them came to our club, but we have to analyse, analyse, analyse from our side and get to the right conclusion. I think there is a possibility that if we are satisfied, then we can make an early move."