Dowie named new Hull manager
Reuters - Wednesday 17 March 2010, 12:57
Iain Dowie has been handed the
task of saving Hull City from relegation after the Premier
League club confirmed on Wednesday he was their new manager.
"We are delighted to confirm that Iain Dowie is the club's
new manager, initially on a short-term contract," Hull said on
their website.
Dowie, who has managed in the Premier League with Crystal
Palace and Charlton Athletic, has nine games to try and reverse
Hull's dive towards a return to the Championship which cost Phil Brown his job on Monday.
Hull, who have not won away in the league all season, are in
19th place with 24 points, three away from the safety zone and
have a game against bottom club Portsmouth on Saturday.
Relegation could have dire financial implications for Hull
with auditors Deloitte stating that relegation to the
Championship could leave them with a 21 million pounds funding shortfall. However, Dowie believes he can save
them.
"I'm not one to be frightened by a challenge," Dowie said.
"It's a about getting everybody together and pulling in the same
direction."
Dowie, a former Northern Ireland striker who played for
Southampton and West Ham United, cut his managerial teeth at
Oldham before taking over at Crystal Palace in 2003 and leading
them into the Premier League via the playoffs.
Palace lasted only one season in the top flight although
Dowie enhanced his reputation as an astute coach. He joined
Charlton in 2006 but lasted just 15 games there and left after a
poor start to the Premier League season.
Since then Dowie has had spells at Coventry City and Queens
Park Rangers in the Championship as well as a brief spell as
assistant to temporary Newcastle United manager Alan Shearer at
the end of last season.
Dowie will be assisted by former England goalkeeper Tim
Flowers and Steve Wigley at Hull.
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