Steve Bruce has left Hull City by mutual consent after four seasons in charge of the Premier League club. Sky sources reported on Friday afternoon that Bruce had departed with immediate effect and Hull confirmed the news in a statement that evening.The 55-year-old, who missed out to Sam Allardyce this week after interviewing for the England job, guided Hull to the Premier League for the second time last season. However, Bruce was reportedly concerned about the lack of investment in new players this summer - a consequence of takeover talks, which have now been placed on hold so Hull can strengthen ahead of the new campaign. Next Hull boss contenders Mike Phelan and Ryan Giggs head Sky Bets odds... The Hull statement read: Following four incredible seasons with the Tigers, including two promotions and our first ever FA Cup final, we can confirm that manager Steve Bruce has left the Club by mutual consent.The Board of Directors would like to thank Steve for all his efforts since his appointment in 2012, culminating in a glorious day at Wembley in May which saw the Club bounce back into the Premier League (by winning the Championship play-off final). Hull will be in the Premier League this season after victory in the play-off final Steve has excelled in his role - both on and off the field - and will be remembered for being the most successful manager in our history to date.Steve wishes the club and the owners all the very best for the forthcoming Premier League season. Steve also wishes to place on record his thanks to the clubs supporters for their unwavering support and also to all the players and staff who have worked with him during his time at the KCOM Stadium.Mike Phelan will step in to the role of caretaker manager until a permanent appointment is made for the upcoming campaign. Alex Bruce and Steve Bruce celebrate Hulls play-off success At the start of June Bruce was reported to have been considering his future, amid speculation the club could be the subject of a takeover bid.Hull have been up for sale since 2014, after the Football Association rejected owner Assem Allams application to change the clubs name to Hull Tigers. And Bruce also held talks with Football Association over the vacant England managers job earlier this month and described it as the prime job for an English coach but the FA ultimately decided to appoint Allardyce. Boro bid for Maguire Middlesbrough have bid £4m for Hulls Harry Maguire Hull reached the 2014 FA Cup final under Bruce, losing an exciting match 3-2 to Arsenal, and the manager has guided them back into the Premier League for the 2016-17 season, thanks to their 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final.But Bruce has now departed, and Sky Sports News HQ reporter Tim Thornton said: So close to the new season, it leaves Hull in a really difficult position given the fact that they have such a threadbare squad and so many injury problems.They do need to strengthen very, very quickly. Assem Allam is expected to back Hulls new manager with transfer funds On Wednesday, Assem Allam made the point he didnt want to bring players in who were Steve Bruce players if he was then going to have to replace Steve Bruce.There is a positive there because he has not brought Bruces signings in and any money that is now invested in players will be for the new manager.Some of Bruces players have said farewell to their manager on social media, midfielder Tom Huddlestone writing on Twitter: Never good to lose a manager, especially one who has signed you and done so well for the club. Wish him all the best for the future. Jake Livermore (right) has praised former boss Bruce Jake Livermore posted a photograph of himself and Bruce on his Instagram account, with the message: Great manager. Great man, will be missed. Thank you.Bruces son, Hull defender Alex, received farewell messages for his father from a host of well-wishers on his Twitter account and responded: Thanks for all the nice messages, Ill pass them on. Also See: Bruce considering his future United should have considered Bruce Hull put takeover on hold Proud Bruce wants England job Jonathan Ericsson Jersey . Got Jacks? Pulling off a comeback for the ages, feisty Stephen F. Austin became the latest No. 12 seed to pull off an upset, tying the game on Desmond Haymons did-that-just-happen four-point play with 3. Bob Probert Jersey . Joakim Nordstrom and Garret Ross also scored for Chicago and Corey Crawford made 30 saves. Tomas Tatar scored twice for Red Wings (2-3-0), Jonathan Ericsson added a goal and Gustav Nyquist had three assists. http://www.hockeyredwings.info/.com) - Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 11. Chris Chelios Jersey . Next years tournament is also within sight for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has never played in a World Cup, but Cristiano Ronaldo looks destined for the playoffs with Portugal after a night when the qualifying picture in the nine groups became much clearer. Brett Hull Jersey . -- Cordell Cato scored his first goal of the season and the San Jose Earthquakes survived a full half playing a man down to beat FC Dallas 2-1 Saturday night.CINCINNATI - With the help of replay that went their way, the Bengals held on for a win.Then they glanced at the rest of the AFC North results and realized what had happened.The defending division champions are once again in control.A 14-13 win in Tampa on Sunday left the Bengals (8-3-1) with more than a game lead over the rest of the division. Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cleveland all lost, falling to 7-5.And the schedule gives Cincinnati a chance to finish it off. The Bengals play two against the Steelers and a game in Cleveland during December.Safety George Iloka described it as a sense of relief when the Bengals realized that the division race has finally broken open — and broken Cincinnatis way. The Bengals host the Steelers on Sunday with a chance to all but eliminate the Steelers from the division title race.Weve just got a little more breathing room, Iloka said on Monday. It always helps when we win a game and other teams lose. Guys were definitely happy about that.The NFLs toughest division finally has a clear-cut leader.All three teams were three games over .500 — an NFL first — heading into the weekend. The Bengals played one of their poorest games and got the help of a replay overturn in the closing seconds. A review showed that Tampa Bay had 12 players on the field for a pass completion that had moved the Buccaneers well into field-goal range.That one replay changed everything in the division.Cincinnati is in solid shape to reach the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. And the Bengals are heading into December on a hot streak.The win at Tampa Bay marked the third straight week the Bengals had won on the road, which is a franchise first. The defence has finally straightened out, which is the most encouraging sign.And Cincinnati takes a lot of confidence and what amounts to a 1 1/2-game lead into the final stretch of the season.Its winning time, offensive co-ordinator Hue Jackson said on Monday. This is when you grow. This is when the real players show up, because this is an opportunity to really maake something special happen.ddddddddddddPeople remember what you do in December. Thats the old term: December, January football is where its at.January has been Cincinnatis worst month. The Bengals have lost opening-round playoff games each of the past three seasons — two in Houston, last year at home to San Diego — and havent gotten a post-season victory since the 1990 season.The whole theme of this season was to get to the playoffs again, and win this time. A 24-3 loss to Cleveland at Paul Brown Stadium on Nov. 6 in a Thursday night game knocked them out of first place, but theyve regained control with those three straight road wins.The biggest questions in December involve Andy Dalton, who was sick in Tampa and threw three first-half interceptions before helping the Bengals pull it out. Dalton has been erratic all season — he had a passer rating of only 2.0 in the loss to Cleveland — and will be under the biggest scrutiny heading down the stretch.Coach Marvin Lewis said on Monday that he never considered benching Dalton on Sunday even though he was sick and played so poorly in the first half — 7 of 11 for 62 yards with three interceptions and a passer rating of 39.In the second half, Dalton went 12 of 16 for 114 yards with a touchdown and a passer rating of 115.1.I thought he did a great job coming back in the second half after having a very, very poor first half, Lewis said. He missed throws, he missed things that hes supposed to do within the offence, and he heard about it at halftime. I thought he responded to it.He came back and played a great second half.Notes: The Bengals placed LB Jayson DiManche on the injured reserve list with a broken right forearm suffered on Sunday. Theyll look at their options before filling his roster spot. ... The right tackle job is open to competition. Marshall Newhouse and Clint Boling shared time there Sunday. Starter Andre Smith is out for the rest of the season with a torn left triceps.___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFLCheap Barcelona JerseysCheap Real Madrid Jerseys AuthenticCheap Bayern Munich JerseysCheap Dortmund JerseysCheap USA JerseysCheap USWNT JerseysFrance Soccer JerseysSoccer Mexico JerseysCheap Germany JerseysCheap Belgium Soccer JerseysBrazil Jerseys From ChinaGermany Jerseys From ChinaAuthentic Soccer Mexico JerseysCheap Portugal Soccer JerseysWholesale Spain JerseysCheap France Football JerseysCheap Germany Jerseys AuthenticCheap Mexico Jerseys AuthenticWholesale Colombia JerseysCheap Belgium Football JerseysWholesale Argentina JerseysCheap USA Soccer Jerseys Chinacheap uswnt jersey authenticAuthentic AC Milan JerseysDiscount Arsenal JerseysWholesale A.S. 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