'We will remember this day for years' - Selles
Hull were safe after a point was enough to keep them up and send Luton Town down
- Published
Hull City boss Ruben Selles says that after arriving when the club was at "rock bottom" it was "massive" to achieve Championship safety.
On Saturday, the Tigers, who started the day in the bottom three, scored first through Matt Crooks before going on to draw with Portsmouth and remain in the division on just goal difference.
Luton Town's defeat at West Bromwich Albion meant that the Hatters would join Cardiff and Plymouth Argyle as the third team relegated to League One.
"I'm very proud of the courage and the way the players managed the game on the pitch." Selles told BBC Radio Humberside.
"Everyone in the club managed difficult moments and it has been a tough season for everyone and we deserved to stay in the division.
"We had a team that was rock bottom and to achieve the target this season with all the injuries and everything else is just massive.
"Now it's over and we crossed the line, we can rest a little bit and I told the players that we will remember this day for years to come."
After the full-time whistle, players and staff spent time with the 2,100 supporters who had made the trip down to the south coast, celebrating and dancing together.
Selles started the season at Reading but made the move to Hull in early December, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal.
He replaced Tim Walter after the Tigers sacked the German following a run of nine games without a win.
On Saturday, Hull came under some pressure in the final minutes, but Selles' side held on, before the final whistle confirmed their safety.
"For us we saw the other results and knew that they were going our way." Selles added.
"In the last 10 minutes because of the Luton result I just decided to shut it down, go to a 5-4-1 and then defend the goal.
"When the referee blew the whistle I just needed to be 100% secure that the other games were done, I didn't want to make a mistake and celebrate to early but we were okay, it was amazing we were able to achieve it."