Hull City owner Acun Ilicali says he does not regret sacking Liam Rosenior last year and insists that Ruben Selles was also not the right long-term fit despite guiding the club to safety.
Rosenior led City to seventh in the Championship in 2023, narrowly missing out on the play-offs. He later took charge of Strasbourg in Ligue 1, guiding them to a seventh-place finish this season and earning a new three-year deal in April amid reported Premier League interest.
Asked if he had second thoughts over Rosenior’s departure, Ilicali was clear. “No, no, no,” he told Hull Live. “We’re still good friends and have spoken a few times recently. We made a decision and I knew Liam would be fine — he finished seventh and would find a job easily. I don’t feel like I disturbed his career.”
Speaking to Sky Sports News on Thursday evening, Ilicali also addressed the decision to part ways with Selles, who was dismissed less than two weeks after ensuring survival with a final-day draw at Portsmouth.
“Ruben is a fantastic guy and a very good coach,” said Ilicali. “But I think if you look at last year when we missed the play-offs, people asked why we sacked Liam. This time, we reached our target and again changed manager.
“I want to underline something very clearly – our aim is to reach the Premier League. First top 10, yes, but the play-offs is the target. We have a top 10 budget and a top 10 squad in terms of value. Injuries made it hard, but we still believe in our ambitions.”
He continued: “I’m dreaming of the top six, and I know our fans are too. But to get there, we need to be fully aligned with our head coach. Chemistry is everything. I want stability, I want a long-term relationship, but it has to be the right match. That’s why we made the decision.”
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