Acun Ilicali set to sack Hull City boss Ruben Selles as replacement already on radar

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EFL Analysis understands Acun Ilicali could sack Hull City boss Ruben Selles, despite keeping the Tigers in the Championship.

Hull City’s 1-1 draw against Portsmouth on Saturday was enough to keep them in the Championship on goal difference as Luton Town were beaten 5-3 by West Brom.

While this was a time to celebrate surviving by the skin of their teeth, Acun Ilicali is already looking ahead to next season, with several important decisions set to be made by the owner.

In May 2024, Ilicali shockingly sacked Liam Rosenior after he led the Tigers to a seventh-place finish, only missing out on the Championship play-offs by three points.

Now, in an EFL Analysis exclusive, we can reveal that history could repeat itself as Selles is in serious danger of losing his job.

• READ MORE: The ‘lovely’ thing that Hull City boss Ruben Selles did after Hull City survival

Tony Mowbray on Hull City’s radar to replace Ruben Selles

In the hours after Hull confirmed their Championship status with a draw at Fratton Park, it emerged that Ilicali was considering sacking Selles.

As per our Chief Football Correspondent, Graeme Bailey, we are led to believe that Ilicali is likely to sack the Spaniard from his role in the coming days.

That is seen as a ludicrous decision from most in the fanbase, who believe Selles deserves a summer to bring in his own players and mould the squad how he wants it.

Unfortunately, firing the 41-year-old just five months after taking the job in East Yorkshire could create a huge rift between the supporters and the owner.

According to Bailey, though, former West Brom boss Tony Mowbray is among the list of replacements already being drafted up, but the 61-year-old isn’t in a huge hurry to commit.

West Brom sacked Mowbray as manager in April after winning just five of his 17 matches in charge of the Baggies, while watching their play-off hopes evaporate.

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Ilicali risks losing the trust of Hull fans by sacking Selles

Most Hull fans are satisfied by the job Selles has done in East Yorkshire, ultimately dragging the team to safety and fulfilling what he was undoubtedly told to achieve.

With multiple key players injured, including January signing Eliot Matazo and exciting wingers Mohammed Belloumi and Liam Millar, the former Reading boss did a decent job with a side that struggled to score goals.

So, ahead of a pivotal summer transfer window, supporters wanted the stability of a manager staying and being allowed to assemble his own squad of players.

Selles deserved that right after keeping the Tigers up, but unfortunately, Ilicali has other ideas, and that could negatively impact the squad.

For instance, sacking the promising manager could reduce the chances of signing Joe Gelhardt permanently from Leeds United.

Indeed, relieving Selles of his duties and hiring Mowbray, for example, is one way to annoy an already frustrated fanbase and burn more bridges.