"I don't want" - Acun Ilicali urged to swerve controversial Hull City, Ruben Selles call | OneFootball

The Tigers could be looking at a sixth permanent appointment of Ilicali's tenure

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Hull City's 2024/25 campaign was far from ideal and expected, with the East Yorkshire side securing their survival on the final day of the season.

After being poached from League One play-off hopefuls Reading in early December, the short-term objective of Championship safety couldn't have been made clearer to Ruben Selles, with the Tigers then looking to progress back towards their previous position as top-six chasers in 2023/24.

At the time of the Spaniard's appointment, owner Acun Ilicali had made it clear that his and Selles' visions were aligned with one another and that he was the club's "number one target."

However, after taking charge of 27 league games plus an FA Cup defeat on penalties to League Two champions, Doncaster Rovers, uncertainty surrounding the 43-year-old's long-term future is rife, and it began just hours after City's survival mission by virtue of a superior goal difference to Luton Town was complete with a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth on Saturday lunchtime.

Selles' tenure hasn't been flawless, but the general consensus among the fanbase is that he has earned enough credit to continue the rebuild which he started at the turn of the year, with contrasting reports on a potential replacement in the form of Tony Mowbray following soon after.

Unsurprisingly, it's also a viewpoint shared by Football League World's resident City fan pundit, Ryan Frankish, when asked for his thoughts on the matter.

Acun Ilicali urged to reconsider potentially brutal Ruben Selles, Hull City call

Ilicali hasn't been afraid to make bold and quick changes at the MKM Stadium since his £30m takeover three-and-a-half years ago, with the ex-Southampton boss the fifth permanent man in the dugout during said period.

Whilst factors such as a dreadful home record, poor results against those in and around the relegation picture and an array of long-term injuries to key signings showcase why City were unable to pull themselves clear of the drop ahead of the final day, Selles also had the men in Black and Amber performing as a mid-table side with 34 points accumulated and the fourth-best defensive record since his first game against Watford.

Unsurprisingly, the aforementioned Hornets have once again embroiled themselves in further managerial controversy this week too, and whilst Frankish states he wouldn't be against appointing Tom Cleverley following his dismissal, he believes Selles is still the right fit in HU3.

"To be honest, I don't think there's anyone really out there at the minute who's a vast improvement on Selles," he began.

"You've got Tom Cleverley - I'd still take Cleverley - but I don't think he's the be-all and end-all. I don't think he'd be an improvement on Selles, really," our fan pundit claimed.

"You've got Tony Mowbray, I just think, no. Obviously, there were links to him, and they were rubbished. But still, I don't really like the look of them (rumours).

"I don't think there is anyone, really (who can do a better job)," Frankish stated.

"I'm fully backing my manager, and I'm saying I don't want him to get sacked. I want him to stay, and I don't want anyone to replace him."

Fresh Ruben Selles developments must have Hull City hierarchy on red alert

As previously stated, Watford, alongside West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers are just four of Hull's divisional rivals heading into next season who are currently managerless, and it has been revealed by Mike McGrath of the Telegraph that clubs in the second-tier and across the EFL in general have expressed a "concrete interest" as they plot decisive moves of their own.

Selles still has two years left on his deal in East Yorkshire, which is more than enough time for the head coach to continue building the club up with his clear philosophy, as well as having a full pre-season and continued backing in the transfer market, which he received in January as City fended off strong competition for Louie Barry - who suffered injury misfortune - as well as the £3m signing of Eliot Matazo and £2.5m parted with to sign Kyle Joseph.

Selles has a reputation as a coach who is able to develop young talent and showcase strong man-management skills on top of his front-footed ideologies, akin to Liam Rosenior who was dismissed 12 months ago.

Of course, football is a ruthless business and every key decision such as this will be analysed to the nth degree. However, given the club's plight down the standings in the past year, which, in no small part, was down to a dreadful start under Tim Walter, it's understandable why so many supporters' fear of ripping up the rulebook once more has intensified.