• Former Everton manager and Mike Phelan among managers being considered • Hull want swift appointment with squad heading to Austria next week

Hull City have compiled a five-man shortlist topped by Roberto Martínez as they seek a successor to Steve Bruce before the first-team squad head to Austria for a training camp next week.

Mike Phelan interested in taking over Hull City on permanent basis Read more

With Bruce having resigned last Friday, Ehab Allam, the club’s vice-chairman, has taken control of the recruitment process and plans to complete the interview stage in the next few days.

Martínez, sacked by Everton in May, appeals to Allam and is expected to be strongly pursued. Mike Phelan, Bruce’s former assistant and a former Manchester United No2, who is in caretaker charge, will also be interviewed and has made it clear he would like the job.

Despite proving popular with bookmakers, Steve McClaren, the former Hull midfielder and Middlesbrough, England and Newcastle United manager, is understood not to be one of the five under consideration.

Despite the Premier League season being under three weeks away, promoted Hull have still to sign a senior player this summer and the board recognises a need for urgency. By way of exacerbating mounting problems, an injury crisis has left Phelan with only 13 fit players and there is an acceptance of the need to strengthen. Matters are complicated by Assem Allam, the owner, being seriously ill. His son Ehab has said he will resume negotiations with two consortiums considering buying Hull once the transfer window closes.

Bruce has written an emotional, open letter to Hull fans saying he had to leave for “the sake of the club”. The 55-year-old’s relationship with Hull’s vice-chairman had broken down over the lack of transfer activity but a manager interviewed for the England job this month is regarded warmly among the club’s players and supporters after leading them to two promotions and an FA Cup final during his four years in charge.

“It was with a heavy heart that I ended my time as Hull City manager on Friday,” Bruce wrote. “The four years I spent at the club were among the happiest times of my managerial career. It is rare for a manager to have the backing I’ve had from the fans. It’s been unwavering.

“My biggest regret is having to walk away, but it was a decision I had to make for the sake of the club. The last 12 months have been very tough and it felt like the right step for the club to move forward in a different direction and with someone else in charge. I desperately wanted to make it work this summer and be a Premier League manager again but, sadly, it wasn’t to be.”