Hull want Danny Cowley to replace Nigel Adkins as manager – but face a fight with West Brom for his services.
Cowley is top of the Tigers’ list having guided Lincoln from the National League to League One in three seasons, and is widely regarded as one of the brightest young managers in the country.
The 40-year-old won the National League title in his first season with the Imps in 2017, and in the same season guided the team to the quarter-final of the FA Cup, the first non-league side to reach the stage in over a century.
His side beat Premier League Burnley along with then- Championship sides Ipswich and Brighton during their remarkable run.
He also won the EFL trophy in 2018 and won League Two this season.
Albion, who have been without a permanent manager since sacking Darren Moore in March, have already talked to Cowley but Hull are confident they can tempt him to the KCOM.
Cowley, who works in harness with his brother Nicky, has three years left on his contract and the Imps will be entitled to £500,000 compensation.
Adkins leaves at the end of the month after rejecting a new deal because of “contractual issues”.
In a statement on social media he said: "It is with a heavy heart and after much careful consideration that I have decided that our futures are not aligned and that I will be leaving the club when my current contract finished on the 30th June.
I will take with me some very special memories from the past 18 months."
Adkins guided Hull to a safe midtable finish this season after they finished 13th in the Championship, while West Brom lost to Aston Villa in the playoff semi-final under the guidance of caretaker manager James Shan.
