Fans threaten to boycott as ex-Newcastle star considered for Championship job
Hull City are searching for a new manager after controversially sacking Ruben Selles despite him saving them from relegation to League One, with fans threatening to revolt
Hull City fans are threatening to boycott the club if they appoint former Newcastle star Emre Belozoglu as their new boss. The Tigers sacked Ruben Selles on Thursday, despite guiding them to safety having taken over with the club rock bottom of the Championship.
Emre has emerged as a surprise contender for the job despite his only management experience being in his native Turkey. He spent two years with İstanbul Başakşehir before a short stint at Ankaragücü and is now in charge of Antalyaspor.
He is yet to win a major honour as a manager, with his current club finishing in the bottom half of the Turkish Super Lig this season. The 44-year-old did have a more exotic playing career, including stints at Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Newcastle.
He endured a rocky time at St James' Park, being the subject of three different allegations of racism towards opposition players. The Football Association cleared him in all three incidents.
Emre was though handed a suspended prison sentence in 2014 for a racial slur he used against Ivorian midfielder Didier Zokora during a match two years earlier. His sentence was suspended because the court said there were no previous offences and a belief that he would not repeat his behaviour.
According to HullLive, the news that Emre has been linked with the vacant job has gone down like a lead balloon among fans. There has been widespread anger on social media towards the links with Emre.
And it is claimed 'legions of supporters' have even threatened to boycott games should he be appointed. There are also potential ramifications from sponsors and corporate clients if Emre takes charge.
Hull owner Acun Ilicali has held talks with former the former Magpie. He is understood to be one of two leading candidates to become Hull's fifth permanent manager since January 2022.
Owner Ilicali has confirmed that that Emre is in the running. But he has insisted that the former Turkey international is not as close to being appointed as had been claimed.
"Emre is not in the front line of our candidates," the owner told BBC Sport. "We have four plus one candidates for our manager's position. There are some from Europe, England, and Emre is one of them.
"He's one of the candidates; nothing more than that. He is not [in] front, just at the moment we will make interviews. The main reason [for sacking Selles], if you ask me, our target was never to stay in the league.
"We have to be a team, together, and everybody has to trust each other. And if we don't have the full trust of our future, I don't think it can last."
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