Source: Telegraph
Phil Brown 'sad to be leaving Hull City' but 'proud of achievements'
Brown, 50, spoke out after his tenure at the relegation-threatened Premier League club was suddenly brought to a halt on Monday morning. [LNB]'I am obviously very disappointed with the club's decision and the fact that I will now not have the opportunity to secure Hull City's status in the Barclays Premier League for a third consecutive season,' Brown said in a statement issued by the League Managers' Association. [LNB] Related ArticlesHull sack Phil BrownBrown's potential successorsHull 1 Arsenal 2Brown apologises for players' bust-upHull to sell season tickets to agencyEverton 5 Hull City 1'Although I am extremely sad to be leaving Hull City, I am very proud of my achievements during my time as manager, especially having led the team into the top flight of football for the first time in the club's 104 year history and ahead of schedule. [LNB]'It has been a fantastic experience and I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all of the players, past and present, and also to my staff. [LNB]'Finally, I would like to thank the fans for their support and wish the club every success in the future.'[LNB]Earlier, Hull chairman Adam Pearson announced that Brown, who took the helm at Hull in December 2006 when the club was on the brink of relegation from the Championship, had been 'relieved of his duties' and 'placed on gardening leave'. [LNB]Hull are currently third-bottom of the Premier League following their 2-1 defeat by title-chasing Arsenal last Saturday. [LNB]Brown's No2 Brian Horton and coach Steve Parkin have been placed in charge ahead of Saturday's crunch visit to Portsmouth.[LNB]Former Hull chairman Paul Duffen shared Brown's sadness and expressed surprise at his dismissal.[LNB]'It's a sad, sad day in many ways but the stuff that Phil achieved at Hull City will always live in the record books, so many firsts. He's been resilient and consistent and done a fantastic job at the football club.[LNB]'These things rarely happen as knee-jerk decisions. Some of the bookies slashed the odds last week for Phil to be sacked and I'm sure there will have been conversations and movements going on in the background long before today.[LNB]'On the face of it you could say it's surprising with nine games to go when it's hard to make any real difference in terms of playing squad obviously, no windows available to change a side[LNB]'It's probably a reflection of the fact that some of those unpleasant statistics, in terms of the time it's been since Hull won away and the building pressure coming into the run-in, has taken its toll maybe in terms of relationships between the training ground and boardroom.[LNB]'I would be surprised if there isn't a new manager already pencilled in. Brian and Steve are very capable but it still is disruptive not to have a permanent manager in place.'[LNB]
