Confirmed: Hull sack Mike Phelan with club stranded in the relegation zone

Posted Wednesday, January 04, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Confirmed: Hull sack Mike Phelan with club stranded in the relegation zone
Mike Phelan has been sacked by Hull

HULL have parted company with Mike Phelan after just three months.

The 54-year-old has been shown the door only three months after being appointed as the club's head coach.

He leaves with Hull rock bottom of the Premier League and heading for an immediate return to the Championship after last season's promotion.

The former Old Trafford number two pays the price for a disastrous run that's seen the Tigers win just one of their last 18 league games.

In his first managerial role, Phelan led Hull to their first-ever League Cup semi-final - where they will face his old side Manchester United next week.

But after winning his first two Premier League games during an extended three-month spell in caretaker charge to be named manager of the month in August he has been unable to halt City's slide down the table.

In a statement the club said: "The club can announce this evening that it has parted company with head coach Mike Phelan.

"We would like to thank Mike for his efforts both as assistant manager and head coach over the last two years.

"The search for a replacement has begun and an announcement will be made in due course."

Phelan was brought in by Steve Bruce at the start of 2015 - replacing his former Manchester United team-mate when the Geordie walked out in the summer over a lack of backing in the transfer market.

He has been planning to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window - but has been sacked before he could bring in any of this targets.

Hull have taken just three points from the last 27 to leave them bottom, three points adrift of safety after going down 3-1 at West Brom on Monday.

Only last week Phelan claimed he did not fear the sack despite relegation rivals Swansea and Crystal Palace axeing their bosses.

He has been forced to work against an uncertain backdrop of supporter unrest at the club owners the Allam family, who are in talks to end their turbulent six-year at the KCOM Stadium.

Gary Rowett is the early favourite for the job.