Hull City manager latest – Acun Ilicali makes next big decision as experience preference revealed

City will face Boro on Teesside this weekend in their first game since Tim Walter’s exit

Hull City will take their time over appointing their next manager with owner Acun Ilicali keen not to rush the appointment to ensure he gets the right man.

Ilicali made the big decision to sack Tim Walter after Tuesday night’s 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, which sparked a furious reaction from supporters, who called for the German’s sacking after a run of nine games without a win, including four straight defeats which has left them entrenched in the bottom three.

City fans got their wish on Wednesday afternoon when Walter left, with the ex-Hamburg chief saying his goodbyes to the players at the club’s Cottingham training ground on Thursday before leaving for Germany with his family, who were present at the MKM Stadium against the Owls.

Hull Live understands from sources involved in the search for Walter’s successor that Ilicali has told those involved in the process there is no pressure to rush into making a permanent appointment, and while there is an understanding that it can’t drag on for any longer than necessary, he is prepared to wait to ensure they get the right man.

Assistant boss Andy Dawson will take charge at Middlesbrough on Saturday after being asked to guide the Tigers through this latest transitional period by head of recruitment, Jared Dublin, on Wednesday, who is thought to be playing a key role in the process. At this stage, Dawson has only been asked to prepare the team for the trip to Teesside, along with Under-21 coaches Conor Sellars and Billy Clarke, along with goalkeeping coach Erbil Bozkurt, and that will continue for as long as necessary.

City are understood to have five or six potential options that they’re looking into with former Fulham and Watford promotion winner Slavisa Jokanovic on that list, while Mark Robins is another under consideration, as are others based in the UK. No decision has yet been made about the preferred candidate, and the owner will use the next few days to research potential candidates and carry out the necessary due diligence, but Championship experience is being viewed as a key characteristic.