Hull City chairman Paul Duffen admits he had "a variety of alternatives" before appointing manager Phil Brown full-time last year.

Duffen told the Daily Mail: "With hindsight and 20-20 vision, I can say what a bloody good decision it was but it was the only important decision I had to make early on.

"There were a variety of alternatives. I needed to make sure it was someone with whom I could forge a productive relationship and embark on a journey in which we both had a shared goal.

"I formed a strong impression of Phil's man-management and resilience, and it was an easy decision. I felt Phil had the right balance of footballing skill, experience, personal qualities and that meant he was not only right for the job but that we could work together."