Hull City

Ben Ashton
BBC Sport England

Image source, Getty Images

The 2024-25 Championship season might be over but there are many ways to analyse and reflect on the campaign that has gone before us.

Not every club can go up but if there are signs a team is moving in the right direction, it can still be considered good progress - or quite the opposite if things are on the slide.

Here is a look at how each of the 18 sides who were in the Championship for the past two seasons got on points wise compared to the 2023-24 campaign.

It perhaps comes as no surprise that Sunderland, who won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, recorded the most significant improvement after finishing 16th in 2023-24 and picked up 20 more points.

Despite a tumultuous season off the field, Blackburn were the second most improved side in the division, gaining 13 points on the previous campaign as they missed out on the play-offs by just two points.

Leeds racked up 90 points in 2023-24 but somehow still managed a 10-point improvement as they hit the 100 mark on their way to winning the title in their best-ever season in the second tier.

Millwall's seven-point improvement was enough to help them finish five places higher in eighth, but they fell short of the top six by two points.

Meanwhile, Bristol City were only six points better off but managed to climb five places and claim a play-off spot, recording their best Championship finishing position since 2007-08.

Coventry also only improved by five points but were able to jump from ninth to fifth, perhaps showing just how fine the margins can be in the Championship when it comes to securing a play-off berth.

At the bottom...

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You might want to look away now, Hull City fans.

The Tigers went backwards more than any other side compared to the previous season under Liam Rosenior, dropping from seventh place and three points outside the play-offs to only escaping relegation on goal difference on the final day.

Cardiff went from mid-table in 2023-24 to rock bottom and will drop down to League One for the first time in 22 years. It is pretty clear to see why as the Bluebirds picked up 18 fewer points compared to the previous season.

Norwich tumbled to 13th place after finishing in the play-offs a year before - an underperformance which ultimately cost Johannes Hoff Thorup his job as head coach.

Preston were 10 points off the play-off places in 2023-24 but picked up 13 fewer points under Paul Heckingbottom in what was their worst season since they were relegated from the Championship in 2010-11.

The Lilywhites' downturn was largely due to a major dip in form in the latter stages of the campaign, picking up only one win from their final 15 games (D7 L7) to avoid the drop by just one point.

West Bromwich Albion endured a disappointing season - for a club which always harbours ambitions of plying its trade in the top flight - with an 11-point drop off.

Albion's final points tally of 64 was their worst in the Championship since 1999-2000.

Plymouth may have only been five points worse off than they were in 2023-24 but having survived on the final day that season, there were to be no such heroics this time around and their two-year stint in the second tier is over.

And the rest...

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*All data based only on teams who were in the Championship in 2023-24 and 2024-25

Should Hull City appoint Sergej Jakirovic as their new head coach, what could the club expect from the Bosnian?

The 48-year-old has managed in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and most recently, Turkey, but if he does join the Tigers, it will be his first managerial experience of English football.

Croatian journalist Ivan Renic has been speaking to BBC Radio Humberside about what Jakirovic might be able to bring to the team.

"You can expect attacking football," Renic said.

"He's not used to defending. Everywhere except the last Turkey job, he was attacking the title, fighting for the title, for the cups, for everything.

"He usually plays a 4-2-3-1 attacking formation with one central striker, which he's going to find probably in the transfer window."

As for what his best attribute is, Renic believes it's the connection between the boss and his squad.

"He has a good relationship with players, that's what is special about him," he said.

"He really connects with the players on a special level and that's what his biggest talent is. He can lift the player up, especially the striker who needs the confidence to score goals."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City midfielder Kasey Palmer has scored his first international goal for Jamaica during their 3-2 win over Trinidad and Tobago.

London-born Palmer slotted home a penalty in the 25th minute to earn his maiden goal and open the scoring during the international friendly.

It marks his first time on the scoresheet since September, when he netted his second Championship goal for the Tigers during a 3-1 victory against Stoke City.

Palmer, who has scored two international goals at youth level with England, has made 14 appearances for the Reggae Boyz since his first call-up in March 2021.

Spanish former Liverpool winger Albert Riera, 43, is a leading contender to become the next Hull City manager. (Talksport, external)

Want more transfer news? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City have recruited former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Martin Hodge as their new head of recruitment.

The 66-year-old was previously involved in recruitment at Swansea City and Burnley, scouting for the latter as well as at Cardiff City and Watford.

Hodge joins after the departure of head coach Ruben Selles following the conclusion of the season, where the Tigers narrowly avoided relegation on the final day.

"I'm pleased to be joining the club," Hodge told the club's website. , external

"Seeing the infrastructure that is in place and the number of people that work here, this is a big club and a project I'm excited to get my teeth into."

Hodge enjoyed a 19-year playing career, setting a club record for the Owls with 214 consecutive appearances.

We asked you what you made of the decision to relieve Ruben Selles of his duties, despite guiding Hull City to Championship safety on the final day of the season.

Here's a selection of responses from Tigers fans.

Chris: City, and Ilicali, need to get things right for next season: recruit a manager with experience of the Championship, recruit the right players - quality over quantity, release/sell the expensive underperforming players and then allow for a sustained period of stability. Success takes (a long) time in football.

Den: I would have given him 10 games to see how it panned out with signings in this transfer window. The owner needs to stop the merry-go-round with managers and let a team gel and get used to his style of playing.

Scott: Tells you something when the Watford fans are laughing at you. Another promising young manager sacked by Acun. He needs to be careful, he can soon go from "hero to villain" and is already losing fans.

John W: Teams today want instant success. I think Ruben was doing ok, he achieved Championship survival which was clearly the aim and I believe with a bit of backing (money wise) he could transform Hull's fortunes. He did superbly at Reading and I believe given more time would have done alright at Hull. It's a very tough and demanding league. Whoever gets the job next will need financial backing. Good luck in your next position Ruben.

Stephen C: Should have given Selles more time. To enable him to produce his own squad. They need to appoint a manager with EFL experience and not some inept foreigner.

Stephen: It was on the cards - after last season coming seventh the owner made his views clear that he was aiming to be in the Premier League. Regardless of the problems that the team had this season they should have finished in a better position.

Greg: Terrible, terrible decision. The best way to ruin a club is uncertainty and for the second year running we will be going into the summer with no identity and nothing to build on. Players can't look at a growing project (eg Selles') and buy into it but instead have to take a punt and that will hurt us in the window. It's a bad blunder and will send us to League One at this rate.

Taylor: Three managers in 12 months is shocking for us. Acun needs to have a look at himself and realise that what he's doing isn't benefiting the club. In my opinion, Acun out.

David: They should never have sacked Rosenior. Hull City's owners make the same mistakes over and over again, and I don't see that changing.

Paul: We needed a change, he kept playing the wrong formation of 4-3-2-1. When he played 4-3-3 we played better and even won.

Jon: There was little evidence to suggest improvement was on the way. More of the same was an uninspiring prospect. Change was needed.

Ben: He joined in December, and we were bottom three. Was he pretty? No. But at the end of the day we're playing Championship football next season and for that I think Selles deserved the summer and start of next season. I don't know what Acun wants. First Rosenior for "football philosophy" and now this. It's unrealistic, he wants a promotion fast, like the rest of us. But does he think the way to get it is by trying manager after manager until we win the league? Instead of being realistic and building a brand with a young manager we already had in Selles or even Rosenior.

Rhys: We uproot the entire management team and playing squad year on year. It's insanity. There is zero stability at the club at the minute and as good as Acun has been for the club he is also everything wrong with it at the moment.

Daniel: Deserved a chance to build a team. Forced to make do, hence the style of football but did what he had to do without excelling.

John: Once again we are in no man's land. We need an experienced Championship manager and not a foreign import. We missed out not getting Mark Robins in. Watch Stoke city go next season. He knows what is needed. Selles will not be missed, very poor manager. Don't make the same mistake again.

Mike: I don't get it. Surely we don't start again with another manager. Who will want the job with the owner's track record? Lots of names out there but please don't give us another Tim Walter. A proven manager would be great but I don't want a dinosaur like Tony Mowbray. Dyche is ok, Potter is ok.... let's see.

Tigers fans, what do you make of the news that Ruben Selles has left the MKM Stadium?

Another summer, another change in the dugout. Do you think Selles would have improved City's fortunes next season, or do you think this is the right move after a season of struggle? Who would you like to see replace him?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Check back later and we'll publish a selection of views right here.

Mike White
Sports editor, BBC Radio Humberside

Image source, PA Media

Here we go again! That's how most Hull City fans must be feeling just over five months on from Ruben Selles' appointment and 12 months, almost to the day, since Liam Rosenior's shock departure.

And it's why many supporters are starting to feel like they've become the 'new Watford' as the managerial merry-go-round sees another change and another summer of uncertainty for the Tigers.

Selles' remit was survival, which he achieved. In doing so, he ensured Hull weren't faced with a huge financial hit that would have had significant implications on a club who reported losses in excess of £60m in the last accounts - a number likely to keep growing.

Dealing with a number injuries to key players and possessing a toothless attack where the leading scorer (Pedro) only managed six goals, City survived on the final day on goal difference.

A net zero goal difference during his time in charge showed that the Spaniard had managed to shore up a defence that was far too leaky in the first half of the season under the failed experiment that was previous head coach Tim Walter.

Under Selles, the team were actually a top-half side in the Championship form table in the latter half of the campaign, managing nine wins - three times as many as they'd registered under Walter.

That said, the football at times felt too safe and laborious which could be put down to a lack of trust in their attacking players to be able to score enough if they went behind in games.

The final home game of the season against relegation rivals Derby was maybe the performance that signalled the beginning of the end for Selles in the mind of owner Acun Ilicali.

It was largely felt the team had been set up not to lose that game when a win would have secured Championship survival with a game to spare and avoided the nervous last-day drama that unfolded at Portsmouth.

Despite that, this decision still feels harsh and also appears to be the straw that broke the camel's back for many fans, if reaction on social media is to be used as any sort of credible measuring stick.

Ilicali originally won over City supporters by being the knight in shining armour, taking over in early 2022 from the previous regime that had alienated itself from a large section of the fanbase.

He's taken some fans on all-expenses paid holidays to his native Turkey, spoken repeatedly about his love for the city of Hull and promoted his 'One Family, One Dream' mantra that is visible around the club.

Sadly, his ownership now feels like it's slid into a dysfunctional nightmare and many fans are venting their frustration towards the Turkish businessman with both barrels.

Where Hull turn next is the big question. One thing is for sure - a new manager has to be appointed quickly to ensure another summer of uncertainty and poor recruitment doesn't rear its head again like last year.

Names such as Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl as well as Russell Martin and Steve Cooper (both without clubs) are being touted among fans.

It does feel like it needs an experienced manager with knowledge of the English leagues but it has been suggested to me that Ilicali could be looking internationally again despite previous failed experiments in Shota Arveladze and Walter.

One thing's for certain - it's another challenging and uncertain time to be a Hull City fan.

Hull City midfielder Matt Crooks says that despite having "so much quality in the squad", the side will need to bolster their numbers if they want to avoid another relegation battle next season.

The Tigers secured another year in the Championship after Crooks scored the opening goal, with Portsmouth not able to find more than an equaliser during their 1-1 draw.

It was a point that took them out of the bottom three on the final day, relegating Luton Town on goal difference instead.

"I think there's a comradery in the squad that can be built upon, but obviously, the Championship is a tough league," Crooks told BBC Radio Humberside.

"You need quality all over the pitch; I think we've got that, but we'll need to add to that if we want to improve our situation next year."

The season finale came as "a relief" to Crooks, who joined the club in January,, and is already looking forward to getting "a fresh start in the summer" with the club.

"Have a positive pre-season; that's what we've got to think about now," the 31-year-old added.

"The season is done. We can forget about it and focus on next season."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Mike White
BBC Radio Humberside, sports editor & Hull City commentator

Image source, Getty Images

Some Hull City fans have barely had time to make it back to East Yorkshire from their Bank Holiday weekend on the south coast, but already talk of another possible managerial change is on their minds as it's our understanding the future of head coach Ruben Selles is under serious scrutiny heading into this summer.

Ultimately, Selles' remit when he was brought in last December was survival. Mission accomplished.

Was it perfect? No. Was it frustrating and disappointing at times? Absolutely. Did they have to overcome certain obstacles and challenges that hampered the ability to make greater progress? Undoubtedly.

However, what was left behind by the carnage of previous manager Tim Walter's short but damaging time in charge needed a lot of work to clean up.

Injuries played a big part. The slapdash recruitment of the summer hampered them greatly too.

Selles brought order and structure to how the team were being managed again after five months where at times they were doing a lot in terms of training but actually gaining very little, according to those close to the situation.

On the face of it, you can say he didn't improve the team enough. Scraping past the winning post on goal difference alone isn't much to write home about, but survival was the main target.

Walter managed just three wins from August to mid-November. Selles tripled that tally. A low bar, admittedly, but it shouldn't be discounted.

There have been some positive moments; a 3-3 draw at home to eventual champions Leeds United, a demolition of Sheffield United on their own patch, a gutsy and professional win at Sunderland and a badly-needed strong first-half performance at Portsmouth to set the table for the eventual survival-confirming draw.

And there have been some poor ones too; in key games at home to relegation rivals Luton and Derby in recent weeks, just to name a couple.

But it surely has to be a work in progress that needs time rather than rip it up and start again. The home form has to improve tenfold, Selles has to be braver with his selection, approach and substitutions at times (though maybe some of that was based on where they were in the table) and some players need to stand up and deliver their part.

Many fans, though not all, in the aftermath have made it abundantly clear that despite some of the shortcomings of both Selles and his side, he has their backing and the words 'stability' and 'consistency' have led the way in the many social media posts and comments about it.

It's clear that owner Acun Ilicali does things his way, whilst perhaps guided (or maybe misguided) by certain forces and influences around him.

However, he said in December that the main reason he sacked Walter just hours after saying the German's position wasn't under threat was down to overwhelming negative fan reaction towards the former Hamburg boss. So maybe in reverse that will be what keeps Selles in a job this time around.

What can't happen, and it's already got signs of it, is Hull City becoming another Watford, who have long been mocked for a 'manager of the month' approach to employment in that regard.

This is a pivotal, sliding doors moment for the owner. Which route will he take?

Change is clearly coming. I'm told Martin Hodge's appointment as new head of recruitment (working under sporting director Jared Dublin) is only the start of an overhaul of how things are done in terms of transfers, spending and off-field structure.

For those Tigers fans who've suffered greatly this season, anything to avoid a repeat of this dismal campaign.

Hull City look to avoid relegation as they visit Portsmouth for their final match of the season on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Tigers are currently residing in the last relegation spot but will find themselves making a last gasp grasp to safety if they take all three points at Fratton Park.

However, beating Portsmouth at home is no easy task.

Pompey have averaged 1.77 points per game at home this season, compared to 0.61 on the road, and will want to give their home fans a thank you performance for helping them secure a second season in the Championship.

• Portsmouth have lost two of their last three home league games against Hull City (W1), one more defeat than across their 14 meetings at Fratton Park (W5 D8).

• Hull City have won two of their last six league games against Portsmouth (D1 L3), with the pair drawing the reverse fixture 1-1 back in November last year.

• This will be the first time that Portsmouth have finished a league campaign in the second tier at home since a 3-0 victory over Barnsley at Fratton Park in May 2001.

• Since 2005, Hull have won just one of their 20 final games of a league campaign (D8 L11), a 5-1 home victory over Rotherham United in May 2016.

• Portsmouth have won just one of their seven league games against sides from Yorkshire this season (D4 L2); they last faced sides from the county as many times with as few wins during the 1960-61 season (one win in eight).