Silva is moving on after quitting Hull

Marco Silva has stepped down from his position as head coach at Hull City.

The Portuguese met with club owners Assem and Ehab Allam last night and has elected to pursue other options, despite the Tigers having been keen to retain his services.

Silva’s contractual commitments ended on Sunday, with the short-term deal that he signed in January expiring at the end of the season.

The 39-year-old, who has already held talks with FC Porto back in his home country, is on the wanted list of several clubs, with managerless Watford also strongly linked.

Crystal Palace, seeking a new boss following this week’s departure of Sam Allardyce, and Southampton, who are being tipped to part company with Claude Puel, have also emerged as other possible destinations for Silva, who, despite Hull’s relegation, has earned admirers for his work in East Yorkshire.

Silva took charge of 22 matches at Hull, who are now set for their third managerial change in less than a year.

Hull said in a statement: “The club can announce that Marco Silva has opted to leave his position as head coach. Confirmation had been delayed due to finalising the terms of his release.

“Marco was offered the opportunity to continue the work he has done in the four and a half months he has been at the KCOM Stadium.

“Unfortunately, after considering his future, he has chosen to leave in order to further his career and departs along with assistant head coach Joao Pedro Sousa, firstteam coach Goncalo Pedro and goalkeeping coach Hugo Oliveira.

“Although disappointed by Marco’s departure, we would once again like to place on record our appreciation of his efforts and those of his support staff.”