When Hull City limped over the finish line to secure their Championship survival, few could forget the chaos that engulfed the club earlier in the season.
The Tim Walter experiment flopped badly, and the Tigers found themselves staring down the barrel of relegation. In came Ruben Selles – parachuted into a spiralling situation, inheriting another man’s squad, low on confidence and structure. Somehow, Selles managed to steer Hull clear of the drop, doing just enough with a depleted and underperforming team.
Now, however, bizarrely, it looks like the club might part ways with the very man who saved them. Rumours swirl that Tony Mowbray could take the reins, and Selles could be ushered out. Quite frankly, this would be utter madness – and here’s why.
Selles Has Proven He Can Deliver – Given Time
Ruben Selles is a manager who thrives on organisation, cohesion, and consistency – qualities he had precious little time to instil when he took over in East Yorkshire. Yet, even without a pre-season or the chance to shape his own squad, he got results. This isn’t a one-off either – his time at Reading, during financial crisis and squad instability, showed what he could do when given just a sliver of control.
With a full summer to recruit players that suit his system and a proper pre-season to drill his methods, Hull would be in a much stronger position going into the new campaign. The idea of throwing that opportunity away before it even begins – especially after finally finding a semblance of stability – beggars belief.
They Didn’t Back Rosenior – And It Backfired
It wasn’t long ago that Liam Rosenior was shown the door, a decision many supporters questioned then and now regard as a grave misstep. He had Hull playing attractive football and secured a top-eight finish – respectable by any measure. Yet, he was dismissed in pursuit of a ‘brighter future’. What followed? The Walter debacle.
Since leaving, Rosenior has rebuilt his reputation in France and shown that, with time, he could have taken Hull forward. The club’s recent history should serve as a cautionary tale – managers need time, not pressure. Selles inherited a mess and fixed it. He deserves the chance to build, not be discarded like his predecessors.
The Alternatives Are Hardly Inspiring
Tony Mowbray is the reported frontrunner, but that should concern Hull fans more than excite them. His most recent stint at West Brom was underwhelming, and while he’s a seasoned head, it feels like the game might be moving on without him. This is no longer a league for outdated approaches and conservative tactics.
Tim Walter was hailed as the fresh face Hull needed, but the results were catastrophic. The club simply cannot afford another gamble. Selles hasn’t failed – he hasn’t even had the chance to fail. Why roll the dice when you already have a steady hand on the wheel?
Fan Perception Matters – And Selles Has Credit in the Bank
In today’s game, fan sentiment can’t be ignored. Social media might not be the ultimate gauge of success, but it provides a pulse – and right now, that pulse suggests supporters are warming to Selles. For a manager in place for just six months, that’s no small feat.
More importantly, there’s no toxic atmosphere around the club – quite the opposite. There’s cautious optimism. Letting Selles go now sends the wrong message: that survival wasn’t good enough, and that the club is still lurching from one idea to the next without a coherent plan. That kind of chaos breeds frustration, not results.
Conclusion: Stability Is Key – And Selles Is the Man to Provide It
Hull City have flirted with disaster this season and were lucky to escape with their Championship status intact. But rather than learn from that brush with calamity, they risk repeating the same mistakes – ignoring signs of progress in search of instant success. Ruben Selles has done nothing to warrant the sack. In fact, he’s shown exactly the qualities Hull need: calm under pressure, tactical intelligence, and an ability to adapt.
Now is the time for patience, for faith, and for a long-term plan. Selles should be at the heart of that. Letting him go now would be not just a poor decision – it would be footballing insanity.
