Hull City have parted company with manager Phil Brown as of Monday morning.
While Brown’s position looked very much under threat earlier in the season, it had looked more secure in recent months and his exit does come a little out of the blue, despite the fact that Hull remain in the Premier League’s bottom three.
Hull chairman Adam Pearson said on the Tigers’ official website on Monday: “Hull City AFC confirms that Phil Brown has been relieved of his managerial duties at the club and has been placed on gardening leave with immediate effect. Brian Horton and Steve Parkin will take charge of first-team duties until further notice.
“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Phil for the major success achieved during a period of four seasons in charge at the club and wish him every success for the future. Promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and retention of our status on the last day of the 2009 season are unique events in the history of Hull City AFC and both were achieved under Phil's stewardship during a period which will never be forgotten by all connected with the club.
“However, retention of Premier League status is paramount and the board believes that a change in managerial direction is the correct option at this time.
“The club will keep supporters completely up-to-date in respect of any managerial appointment but, in the meantime, Brian Horton and Steve Parkin will prepare the team for our important game at Portsmouth next Saturday.”
Hull were beaten 2-1 in the dying seconds of their home game with title-chasing Arsenal on Saturday in what was their fourth successive defeat, coming on the back of a heavy loss at relegation rivals West Ham United and en even bigger one at Everton.
Brown had been manager at the KC Stadium since late 2006 and led the team to a shock promotion to the top flight in 2008, Dean Windass’s goal beating Bristol City in the Wembley playoff final before the Tigers made an electric start to life in the top flight.
However, their good form did not last and they only survived relegation by a point in that first season, a campaign which saw Brown's public popularity drop after he berated his players on the field at half-time of a game in which they were beaten heavily by Manchester City.
They remain odds on to go down this year and Brown’s departure comes after a bad week for the club when they not only lost to Arsenal but also had to deal with negative headlines after players Jimmy Bullard and Nick Barmby were involved in a public fight.