Hull urge Football Association to make quick decision after holding informal talks with Steve Bruce over England job
Newly-promoted Hull City have confirmed that manager Steve Bruce has held informal talks with the Football Association (FA) over succeeding Roy Hodgson as England boss.
While no official approach for the former Manchester United captain has been made, the Tigers have followed Sunderland’s lead in calling on the FA to resolve the matter promptly given the proximity of the new Premier League season.
Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has already met with FA vice-chairman David Gill, technical director Dan Ashworth and chief executive Martin Glenn regarding the position and remains the frontrunner for the role.
“The club can confirm that manager Steve Bruce has held informal discussions regarding the England vacancy, although no official approach has been received from the FA,” read a Hull City statement.
“We would hope to see the FA conclude their business quickly in order to avoid further speculation regarding Steve ahead of what is a season of huge importance for the club following our return to the Premier League.”
Former Sunderland, Wigan and Crystal Palace boss Bruce guided Hull back to English football’s top-flight at the first time of asking last season after their relegation from the Premier League in 2015.
Bournemouth’s 38-year-old manager Eddie Howe and United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the ex-Tottenham and Germany striker, have also been linked to the England job.
Hodgson quit as Three Lions boss in the immediate aftermath of his side’s humiliating 2-1 defeat to Iceland in the last-16 of Euro 2016, which brought an end to his four-year tenure.
During that period England were able to navigate their qualification campaigns with ease but continued to struggle at major tournaments. Their Euro 2016 demise followed a group-stage exit at the World Cup in Brazil two years earlier.