‘Understandable decision but Liam will be a success’

FORMER Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Leeds United midfielder David Prutton says

Liam Rosenior has a very successful career ahead of him in football, but he understands why Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has taken the decision to replace the manager.

Prutton was addressing a crowd of City supporters at a live recording of Hull Live’s The 1904 Club podcast at New Walton Club in Hull, with the event happening on Tuesday evening, just hours after Rosenior’s exit from the club had been announced.

The Hull-born former player, who now presents Sky Sports’ EFL coverage, admits the news of Rosenior’s departure caught him by surprise, while also revealing the City players were unsure as to why their manager had been asked to leave, with a series of messages and calls made to club captain Lewie Coyle seeking an explanation.

Taking a hard-nosed approach and putting himself in the shoes of the City owner, Prutton believes City finished where they deserved to this year, with Ipswich Town’s success perhaps having an influence on Ilicali’s decision.

Speaking on The 1904 Club podcast, Prutton said; “Emotionally and knowing Liam like I do, I do feel for him. He understands exactly what football is. You could say he was harshly done by Derby County as well. He’s not going to be a nearly man in football, Liam is going to be very successful with regards to where he goes next, but hopefully not to the detriment of Hull City.

“I still maintain City are the seventh or eighth best team in the division. To put myself in the position of the owner with a hard headed business head on, I can see why he would do that, I really can.

“Football is about the here and now, and missed opportunities. Maybe the owner is looking at it and saying there’s a League One side that has got automatically promoted.

“Liam is a tremendously likeable man, but likeability doesn’t get you into the Premier League sometimes.”