Mike Phelan wants Hull job and says 'watch this space'

Posted Sunday, July 24, 2016 by Skysports.com

Mike Phelan wants Hull job and says 'watch this space'
Mike Phelan is in charge of Hull following Steve Bruce's resignation

Mike Phelan has confirmed he wants to be Hull's next manager after telling Sky Sports News HQ: "Watch this space."

Phelan is in temporary charge following Steve Bruce's departure and is Sky Bet's favourite to succeed his former boss on a permanent basis.

The 53-year-old, formerly Sir Alex Ferguson's right-hand man at Manchester United, has never had a managerial role, although he was also caretaker boss at Norwich for a short spell in 2015.

He told the Hull Daily Mail: "I want to be a manager. I don't really see why I shouldn't want to be a manager. Time will tell. That decision doesn't sometimes come down to you.

"I've had a small chat and I was asked if I would carry on being in charge for now. We have games, we have preparations, we've still got three weeks to go."

Speaking after a 2-0 friendly win at Scunthorpe he told SSNHQ: "I don't know what's round the corner.

"What I've got to do is make sure the players at my disposal are fit and ready for a Premier League season. The rest, I'm afraid, will have to take care of itself."

Asked outright if he wants the job, Phelan said: "That's not an answer I'm going to give you, simply because my remit right now is to keep these players ticking over, keep them prepared and...watch this space."

Phelan admitted Bruce's exit was no surprise after the club's for-sale status contributed to a lack of action in the transfer market following May's play-off win.

Mike Phelan wants Hull job and says 'watch this space'
Bruce took Hull back into the Premier League via the play-offs

He said: "There have been things going on throughout pre-season, but that's for you to find out and for me not to say anything.

"Obviously managers get frustrated at the times you want to be bringing in new players. Steve's no different to anybody else. Things weren't developing possibly the way he wanted.

"Steve was sad about the whole situation. We were concerned for him, really. We're talking about a guy who has put a lot of service into this football club, probably the most successful guy Hull City's ever had."