Hull wanted to appoint ‘miracle’ worker Marco Silva last summer but resisted a pursuit fearful of further antagonizing their fans.
The 39-year-old Portuguese was the next port of call for vice-chairman Ehab Allam after failing to lure Wales manager Chris Coleman.
However, the situation became complicated when newly-promoted Hull’s threadbare squad defied the odds to beat Premier League champions Leicester on the opening day, following up seven days later with an away victory at relegation rivals Swansea.
With supporters already up in arms about a raft of issues including the resignation of Steve Bruce, the most successful manager in the club’s history, the ongoing bid to drop City from its traditional name and replace it with Tigers plus a controversial membership scheme, Ehab Allam – running things at the KCOM Stadium due to father Assem’s ill health – resisted a move which would undoubtedly have caused further agitation.