From Beeb: (at least he plays decent football)
Iain Dowie confirmed as new Hull City manager
Iain Dowie
Dowie has nine games to save Hull from relegation
Iain Dowie has been confirmed as the new manager of struggling Hull City.
The 45-year-old former Northern Ireland international replaces Phil Brown, who was relieved of his duties on Monday.
He takes charge of a team currently second bottom of the Premier League and will be assisted by former England keeper Tim Flowers and Steve Wigley.
"I want us to play open, attractive football but out of possession I want us to be difficult," said Dowie who has signed until the end of the season.
"It's about cool heads, taking opportunities when they come, and a positive outlook," he added.
Brown lost his job after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Arsenal.
However, Dowie wants a repeat of the battling performance that saw 10-man Hull hold out until the third minute of injury time when his team resume their relegation fight at bottom-club Portsmouth on Saturday.
"The tenacity and desire they showed against Arsenal will be absolutely paramount," said Dowie.
606: DEBATE
I'm not a fan of Dowie, but I don't think you'll stay up even if Mourinho goes to you
Isle-of-Man-Red
Chairman Adam Pearson, who described his new recruit as someone with "great passion, integrity, honesty and up for the challenge", said he hoped Dowie's deal could be extended at the end of the season.
"It's a short-term contract with options for both sides. But it's a very permanent move," said Pearson, who had also been linked with a number of other managers, including Gary Megson, Alan Curbishley, Mark Hughes, Avram Grant and Paul Jewell.
"I'm expecting him to sit down and sort out a long-term contract on 15 May."
And Pearson defended his decision to axe Brown, who had led the Tigers into the top flight for the first time in their history in 2008.
"If we didn't take a gamble, all the stats are plainly saying we'd be relegated. In the end, the stats say we are moving in the wrong direction in this league."
Although he had brief spell as caretaker boss during his playing career at QPR, Dowie began his managerial career in earnest at Oldham Athletic, leading the club into the Division Two play-offs in 2002-03 season.
However, Dowie left the financially stricken Latics of his own accord the following season and in December 2003 was named the new boss of Crystal Palace, then in the Championship, and guided the club from 19th place to promotion to the top flight via the play-offs.
Immediate relegation followed and after a 2006 play-off semi-final defeat by Watford, the former Eagles player left Selhurst Park to join Charlton, Palace chairman Simon Jordan successfully suing him over the departure having stated that the manager lied over the reasons for terminating his contract.
Dowie, though, was sacked after 15 games in charge at The Valley before a one-year spell at Championship team Coventry City ended in another dismissal.
Dowie replaced Luigi de Canio at QPR in May 2008 but, despite winning over half of his 15 games in charge and the team lying ninth in the table, an impatient Loftus Road board got rid of the former Southampton striker five months later.
He also briefly worked as a coach at Newcastle last season under Alan Shearer as the Magpies were relegated to the Championship.
_________________ [color="Silver"]Bring back the 8 Ball![/color]
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