Iain Dowie looks set to be appointed the new Hull City manager after the club called a press conference for Wednesday.
Hull turn to former Palace boss to save them from drop
Iain Dowie is set to be named the new Hull City manager on Wednesday after bookies suspended bets on the former Crystal Palace boss taking charge at the KC Stadium.
The 45-year-old is thought to have agreed terms on a short-term contract and is due to be officially unveiled as Phil Brown's successor at a press conference at 11am.
Dowie emerged as the clear front-runner for the job despite City holding tentative talks with a number of high-profile figures including former Charlton and West Ham manager Alan Curbishley.
Dowie will have just nine games to save the Tigers from relegation from the Premier League.
The club appear to have acted quickly to appoint a new manager after deciding to dispense with the services of Brown on Monday.
Four successive defeats have left City 19th in the table and three points adrift of safety.
Chairman Adam Pearson believes taking such decisive action now gives the club their best chance of survival.
Pearson said yesterday: "We feel that we've got a quarter of the season to go with some winnable games within that.
Change
"It's not a fixture list that's packed full of 'top four' games, it's a fixture list with games where we would expect to get some points.
"We feel that we're best served by making the change now. That will bring a fresh face in, some new impetus and some new focus to get those 14 or 15 points that we're going to need."
Dowie's Hull reign will start with a trip to bottom side Portsmouth on Saturday.
The former Charlton boss has spent much of this season working as a Sky Sports pundit and was even covering Preston's home game with Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.
At this stage it is unclear what will happen to current City backroom staff Brian Horton and Steve Parkin.
Spells in charge of Oldham, Crystal Palace, Charlton, Coventry and QPR saw him flanked by fitness coach and close ally John Harbin.
His last two posts have seen him aided by former England goalkeeper Tim Flowers while brother Bob Dowie has also played key roles in his managerial past.
