Arveladze has six-game trial for his Hull future

The times they are a-changing at Hull City. Acun Ilicali’s ownership of the Tigers came to fruition in January and immediately brought with it optimism and joy. But some of that good feeling has tempered recently with six straight home defeats leaving many connected to the Humberside club wondering if they have the right man in the dug-out to help the club fulfil its lofty ambitions.

Hull are a difficult club to gauge. After breaking their own glass ceiling in reaching the Premier League in 2008 and ending the city’s run as England’s largest to never host top-flight football, they have had three separate spells amongst the big boys, most recently in the 2016/17 season. Their only top-half finish since was last season’s promotion-winning campaign in League One.

Battling against Championship relegation may not be glamorous or where anyone of a Hull persuasion wants to be, but it is probably just about right for where the club is now. Previous owners the Allam family warranted much, if not all, of the criticism aimed their way for trying to alter the reputation and identity of the club and losing interest in the best interests of the Tigers while still making self-serving decisions at operative levels.

But after Ilicali’s long-protracted saga to take control of the club was rewarded with three successive victories and an end to the transfer window which made it feel like great things could be achieved this season, the mood has tanked once more. Promotion-winning manager McCann was dumped cruelly but with good reason after taking the reins for the first two of those victories before successor Shota Arveladze got off to a perfect start as well.

They have won just twice since. Hull are in the fortunate position of Peterborough