'In the frame' - Former Birmingham City and West Brom boss among favourites for Championship manager's job

Former Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion head coach Tony Mowbray is one of the favourites to take the Hull City job, with current Tigers manager Ruben Selles highly likely to get the sack.

Hull recently survived relegation to League One by the narrowest of margins, staying up due to having a superior goal difference to 22nd-placed Luton Town, who have now suffered two successive drops down the divisions. Hull were eager to challenge for the play-offs at the start of 2024/25, so it was a disastrous season, and Selles was at the helm for much of it.

Speculation has been building ever since the end of the campaign, with Selles now looking set to depart the MKM Stadium. Hull owner Acun Ilicali has been weighing up his options for the past few days and his decision will be communicated in due course, though it seems likely it won’t be good news for Selles.

BBC Radio Humberside reports that a change of manager is the likeliest outcome at Hull despite Selles keeping the club in the Championship. Rather crucially, it’s stated that Mowbray, who was sacked by West Brom last month, is a “name in the frame” if the job becomes available.

Hull City to consider Tony Mowbray

Mowbray is close friends with Hull’s new head of recruitment, Martin Hodge, and it’s thought a strong working relationship could develop on Humberside. Other options will be considered if it comes to searching for a new head coach, though, with Hull very well aware of the importance of their next steps.

West Brom are also in the hunt for a new manager following Mowbray’s exit, while Norwich City and Swansea City are looking for long-term successors to Johannes Thorup and Luke Williams after interim spells from Jack Wilshire and Alan Sheehan.

In what could become quite the manager merry-go-round, Mowbray could find a new job pretty quickly. The 61-year-old was relieved of his duties by West Brom after winning just five of his 17 Championship matches, losing eight and drawing the other four. He’s now available and ready for work once more.

Mowbray was in charge of Birmingham City not too long ago, too, as he briefly succeeded Wayne Rooney in the St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park dugout but saw his stint end prematurely due to a bowel cancer diagnosis. The former Sunderland manager had only just been given the all-clear when he took over the reigns at The Hawthorns.

There was so much hope and belief when Mowbray came in for a second spell at West Brom to replace Carlos Corberan after a search that lasted nearly four weeks. The fanbase, reminiscing on Mowbray leading Albion to the 2007/08 Championship title, were hoping he’d be able to perform more magic.

It didn’t turn out that way, however, with Mowbray unable to get the Baggies ticking. He was dealt a tough hand, in fairness, as there have been many injuries and suspensions and the squad wasn’t suited to his strengths. Nonetheless, it’s a results business and Albion’s failure to reach the play-offs wasn’t acceptable.