Hull City confirm Grant McCann exit, with Shota Arveladze waiting in the wings

It's rare that a manager loses his job on the back of consecutive wins, but that's exactly what's happened to the unfortunate Grant McCann who has been dismissed by Hull City's new owner Acun Ilicali less than a week after the takeover was completed.

Brilliant back-to-back victories over the promotion-chasing duo of Blackburn and Bournemouth had moved the Tigers 10 points clear of the relegation zone with 19 games remaining. 

The timing is extremely harsh on the former Peterborough and Doncaster boss - now the seventh Championship manager to lose his job this season - who is set to be replaced at the helm by Shota Arveladze, someone who has been linked to the club since November.

McCann, appointed two-and-a-half-years ago, suffered relegation in his first season but bounced back in style by winning the League One trophy: the club’s first league title in 55 years. In total he won 53, drew 29, and lost 54 of his 136 matches in charge.

In a statement confirming McCann's exit on Tuesday, Chairman and owner Acun Ilıcalı said:

“Grant has done an excellent job for this football club in difficult circumstances, most specifically during the takeover process, and for that I offer my sincere thanks.

“These matters are never easy and are more often than not protracted. During the process, Grant has always remained professional and fully focused on the team, and will forever be a friend of the Tigers. I’m sure Grant will be successful in whatever his next challenge is.

“However, now is the time for change and for me to start to build, in what I believe will be an incredibly exciting time for the club. I have a philosophy and a belief that our project should start as we mean to carry on and that involves having my team in place. I understand the timing may look odd, after two good wins, but I wouldn’t be fair or honest if I merely waited for a defeat to change manager. That benefits nobody. I will continue to be transparent with you, our fans.

“Our new head coach will be announced very shortly.”

That head coach is believed to be Arveladze, Georgia’s all-time top goalscorer, who played for Rangers and Ajax and has worked as an assistant manager to Louis van Gaal, Ronald Koeman and Dick Advocaat at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

As an outright manager, the 48-year-old has accrued 10 years of experience in Turkey, Israel, and Uzbekistan.

His first job was at Turkish outfit Kayserispor (86 games), followed by Kasimpasa (91 games), and a stint at Trabzonspor (15).

Up next was a six month spell in Israel at Maccabi Tel Aviv, before a successful three-and-a-half-year tenure in Uzbekistan at Pakhtakor Tashkent, where he won the league, cup and league cup treble, followed by a league and cup double.

During his four year spell as a Rangers player,Arveladze played under managers Dick Advocaat and Alex McLeish, helping the club win two league titles, two Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup - you can watch a collection of his Gers goals right here.

However, the Hull job will represent his first venture into English football, and while it will probably take some time to win over the club’s bemused fans, he’s set to be boosted by news that the club’s transfer embargo is reportedly set to be lifted, meaning a flurry of activity could soon be on the cards at the MKM Stadium.

Firepower will surely be at the top of the agenda with only 23 goals scored so far this season; the third worst in the league.

Hull, 10 points clear of the Championship drop zone, are priced at 1/66 (William Hill) to stay up, 12/1 (Bet Victor) to be relegated, and 8/1 (Bet Victor) to finish in the top-half of the table; they are currently seven points behind 12th-placed Blackpool.

Hull will kick-start their new managerial area on Saturday at home to Russell Martin’s Swansea who are two points and two places better off in the table having played three fewer games.