Wales FA rejects Hull City approach for manager Chris Coleman

Crisis club Hull City's bid to lure Chris Coleman from Wales to east Yorkshire as a replacement for Steve Bruce has been dealt a sizeable setback. The newly-promoted Tigers, who beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in May's Championship play-off final to secure an immediate return to the Premier League after suffering relegation in 2014-15, have had an approach for their number one target rebuffed by the Football Association of Wales (FAW).

"The FAW can confirm that it has received an official approach from Hull City FC for the services of manager Chris Coleman," an official statement released on Tuesday (2 August) read. "Following discussions amongst leading figures within the association the approach has been rejected.

"Chris Coleman signed a new two-year contract in May 2016 ahead of the Uefa European Championship in France and the Fifa World Cup in 2018. Everybody at the FAW is fully focused on the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. The first match is against Moldova in Cardiff on 5 September."

Hull's joy at bouncing back to the top-flight at the first attempt has been utterly overwhelmed by a disastrous summer that has seen Bruce, who achieved two promotions and guided the club to their first FA Cup final and a brief stint in Europe after succeeding Nick Barmby in 2012, hold talks regarding the vacant England post before resigning last month amid frustrations over a lack of first-team signings.

A failure to recruit a single player with less than a fortnight to go before they open the new campaign against reigning champions Leicester City at the KCOM Stadium has been further exacerbated by a rotten run of luck with injuries. Goalkeeper Allan McGregor and defensive trio Michael Dawson, Alex Bruce and Moses Odubajo have all suffered long-term issues during pre-season, while the respective absences of Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore left Hull with just 13 available senior players for a recent friendly at Scunthorpe United.

That latter pair, along with Abel Hernandez and Shaun Maloney, all missed Saturday's 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest, but caretaker manager and former Steve Bruce assistant Mike Phelan has expressed hope that they and injured goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic will travel to Austria this week for matches against Caykur Rizespor of Turkey and Serie A side Torino. Hull's fortunes have taken a further blow with the news that Newcastle United have triggered the release clause of play-off final hero Mo Diame. He has subsequently been offered a new three-year contract to stay on Humberside.

Sacked after a four-year stint in charge of Fulham in April 2007, Coleman hardly boasts a stellar record in club management following short spells with Real Sociedad, Coventry City and Greek outfit AEL. However, he has impressed since being appointed as Wales boss in the aftermath of Gary Speed's tragic passing in 2012, securing qualification for the country's first major tournament in 58 years before overseeing a fairytale run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

Former Swansea City, Wigan Athletic and Everton chief Roberto Martinez is also believed to be on Hull's managerial shortlist, alongside Gianfranco Zola. The Chelsea legend has previously taken charge of West Ham United, Watford and Cagliari and was dismissed by Qatari club Al-Arabi last week.