Nigel Adkins: Hull City boss to leave club at end of contract

Nigel Adkins won 26 and lost 31 of his 78 games in charge of Hull City, after taking charge in December 2017

Nigel Adkins is to leave his role as Hull City head coach after 18 months in charge of the Championship club.

BBC Humberside understands Adkins had agreed a salary and budget but rejected the offer of a new deal due to 'other contractual terms'.

Adkins led the Tigers to a 13th-placed finish in the Championship last season.

"After much careful consideration I have decided that our futures are not aligned," the 54-year-old said in a statement on social media.

Adkins and his assistant Andy Crosby will leave on 30 June and Hull say the search for his successor "is already under way".

Club sources say there have been a number of expressions of interest and a shortlist is expected to be drawn up by the start of next week with interviews to follow shortly afterwards.

It is understood Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley is admired by the club, though compensation for him and his brother Nicky could be a factor.

The duo have guided the Imps to two promotions in three years and have also been linked with the vacant role at West Bromwich Albion.

Former Sheffield United, Reading, Southampton and Scunthorpe boss Adkins took over at the KCOM Stadium from Leonid Slutsky who had been the first Russian manager in English professional football.

Hull were 20th in the Championship when Adkins arrived in December 2017 and he secured their survival in the second tier, finishing 18th that season.

In March, Adkins said he wanted to see where the club was going before committing to a new contract.

Owners Assem and Ehab Allam have been trying to sell the Tigers since 2014.

Analysis

David Burns, BBC Radio Humberside's Hull City commentator

Adkins is the most positive man in football. He was desperate to stay at the club and had restored his managerial reputation while at Hull.

I understand he was prepared to take a substantial pay cut to stay, but it was not about the money. It was more about things like the resources he had at his disposal to enhance his squad, and having a reasonable chance of progressing the club.

He was having sleepless nights over the decision on whether to stay. Clearly he feels he could not take the club forward with the offer he was made and has taken what he calls the toughest decision of his career.