MK Dons manager could be fresh face Hull need to replace Bruce

Steve Bruce’s decision to quit as Hull’s manager on the eve of a new Premier League season has left the Tigers at a difficult crossroads.

Despite guiding Hull back to the top flight for a second time over his four-year stint on Humberside, Bruce appeared at odds with a protracted takeover of the club and the constraints placed on his ability to strengthen his squad during the summer transfer window.

The obvious choice, as our next permanent manager market reveals, would be for Hull to promote from within as a safe option.

Bruce’s assistant Mike Phelan is the early 7/2 frontrunner to become the new man at the KC Stadium helm.

However, as experienced as 53-year-old Phelan is within the game, his perennial assistant status since his playing days ended 20 years ago, must throw into question his desires to fulfil the main flack-taking role.

It’s certainly longer than your average assistant’s apprenticeship. Talking of No.2s, another option would be for Hull to turn to someone whose last job was just that, and someone Phelan is very familiar with.

Ryan Giggs, at 5/1, was so disenchanted with the prospect of working with Louis van Gaal’s Old Trafford successor Jose Mourinho, he brought to an end a quarter-century association with Manchester United.

Clearly one of the most decorated footballers in history has insight to offer, but in the same way Phelan has avoided sticking his head above the parapet, there is an understandably strong consensus that Giggs should build his managerial CV up from a lower tier than the Premier League.

Enter Karl Robinson into the frame at 12/1. The youngest manager in the Football League when he took the MK Dons reins as a 29-year-old in 2010, the Liverpudlian has built a glowing reputation as a training-field maestro.

Now 35, and a first promotion to the Championship in the club’s history and subsequent relegation back to League One two years later on his CV at stadium:mk, a fresh challenge for this relatively fresh face could be beneficial to both parties.

Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe has definitely set the benchmark for the English 30-something managers of late, and this is what Robinson can aspire to, should Hull roll the dice.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.