Mike Phelan says deal for him to be Hull City boss keeps changing

The Hull caretaker manager remains optimistic that a deal for him to take permanent charge will be agreed soon The Hull caretaker manager remains optimistic that a deal for him to take permanent charge will be agreed soon

Hull City caretaker manager Mike Phelan says he has not signed a deal to become permanent boss because the club keep changing the terms of the deal.

Steve Bruce left as manager on the eve of the Premier League season due to concerns over the lack of investment in new players.

Phelan, Bruce's former assistant, took over on an interim basis and oversaw a largely positive start to the season, winning August's manager of the month award despite initially having just 13 fit, senior players.

Since then, Hull have failed to win in the Premier League in September and suffered heavy defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool but Phelan remains optimistic a deal will be agreed for him to take over permanently.

Phelan said: "I am always confident that my future will be resolved. There's a lot of speculation out there.

"My own press officer comes to me with the off detailed report of what I'm supposed to be thinking or doing. My side of things is that we are still talking and we will continue to talk until it is resolved.

Phelan started the season with just 13 fit senior players

"What needs to be resolved is the terms of the deal. It keeps changing. One minute I think I've got something and the club are happy with and then the next minute it changes, so it's a case of thinking about all these new changes on the table and coming to a decision."

Chelsea visit the KC Stadium on Saturday with Antonio Conte's side having also enjoyed a miserable September in the league, failing to win any of their three matches and getting pummelled 3-0 by Arsenal last weekend.

Antonio Conte will be hoping Chelsea can return to winning ways

"I wouldn't say it's a good time to face Chelsea," Phelan said. "It's the time to face them because the calendar says that. We are serious about what we want to do, where we want to go. It's another game at home and we want to perform and make sure we give them a good game.

"It is important to pick up points in every game. We tried to do that against Arsenal, against Liverpool, but that wasn't to be. We didn't come out of it very well as far as conceding goals, but we have an opportunity with 11 men on Saturday. Hopefully we can stay with that and be competitive."

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