New Hull head coach Nigel Adkins calls for unity amid relegation battle
Adkins has become the Tigers’ fifth manager in less than 17 months
Nigel Adkins has called for unity after being unveiled as Hull head coach – the fifth person to take the reins in less than 17 months.
Adkins was appointed on an 18-month contract following the departure of Leonid Slutsky, who left the Tigers at the weekend after winning only four of his 20 Sky Bet Championship games in charge.
The club have collected three points from an available last 21 to slump to 20th in the standings and Adkins admits the club are battling for survival.
Speaking at his unveiling, he said: “The position we are in in the division is a relegation battle.
“Now we’ve got to change that around and win games of football, but we’ve got to focus on how we’re going to win the games of football, that process. I think everybody’s just got to pull together.”
Adkins, who oversaw training on Thursday and will be in the dugout on Saturday against Brentford, returns to football management 18 months after his sacking at Sheffield United.
The 52-year-old said he had been offered a number of opportunities but felt he needed a break from the game.
He added: “It was important for me to take a little bit of time to reflect on what had happened, and I’ve enjoyed my time, I’ve used it very well. I’ve been offered a lot of jobs, I’ve been very thankful for that and appreciative.
“When I got the phone call the other day – I think I’ve been itching now for a little bit and thought ‘it’s probably about time to go and take the next one when it’s offered’.
Adkins twice guided Scunthorpe to promotion from League One and steered Saints to the Premier League in 2012 but was dismissed halfway through the following season.
Slutsky, the first Russian to manage an English club, was appointed by Hull last summer following the club’s relegation from the top flight.
But the former CSKA Moscow and Russia national team coach left the club three points above the bottom three.
