Hull confirm the sacking of Grant McCann as manager
Hull City have confirmed the sacking of manager Grant McCann following the club’s £20million takeover Turkish businessman Acun Ilicali.
Sportsmail revealed on Monday that McCann’s future was precarious after Turkish TV personality Ilicali took control of the Championship club, with former Rangers striker Shota Arveladze set to be appointed in his place.
McCann had been in charge of the Tigers for two-and-a-half years and won promotion from League One last season. Along with assistant Cliff Byrne, he leaves the club 19th in the Championship after picking up back-to-back wins over high-flying Bournemouth and Blackburn.
New Hull owner Ilicali confessed that he is aware of the strange timing but has defended his call to remove McCann from his post after such a successful last six months.
The Turkish supremo said in a club statement: ‘Grant has done an excellent job for this football club in difficult circumstances, most specifically during the takeover process, and for that I offer my sincere thanks.
‘These matters are never easy and are more often than not protracted. During the process, Grant has always remained professional and fully focused on the team, and will forever be a friend of the Tigers. I’m sure Grant will be successful in whatever his next challenge is.
‘However, now is the time for change and for me to start to build, in what I believe will be an incredibly exciting time for the club. I have a philosophy and a belief that our project should start as we mean to carry on and that involves having my team in place.
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‘I understand the timing may look odd, after two good wins, but I wouldn’t be fair or honest if I merely waited for a defeat to change manager. That benefits nobody. I will continue to be transparent with you, our fans.’
The change of managers is a major gamble by Ilicali, who has so far received overwhelming support from fans after ending the unpopular 11-year reign of the Allam family.