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Steve Bruce has no interest in becoming the new Fulham manager despite him suddenly becoming a front-runner for the job.
Yesterday, the odds on Bruce leaving Hull for Fulham plunged from 50-1 to 2-1, sparking speculation he was going to move to Craven Cottage.
However, Bruce has told close friends he has no intention of trading Premier League football for a Championship relegation battle.
That leaves caretaker boss Kit Symons as the favourite for the job, having guided Fulham out of the Championship relegation zone.
Symons has been in temporary charge since Felix Magath was sacked last month.
In the interim, Fulham appointed a five-man committee to decide on the appointment but former England head coach Steve McClaren thinks their is only one candidate.
After watching his Derby team thrash a relatively inexperienced Fulham side in the Capital One tie last night McClaren said: “If they don’t give Kit the job tomorrow I’ll be very surprised.
“Kit came to Holland when I was in charge of FC Twente and was working towards securing his coaching badges.
“We had a good few days together and he was incredibly eager to learn, he’s a really decent bloke. You can’t argue that he has really got Fulham going since he stepped in.
“He has come in in difficult circumstance and done a tremendous job.
“He’s extremely popular here and he has a great calmness about him which is a great quality in a coach. The Fulham job is a very good job but I would be shocked if Kit didn’t get it.”
Fulham were undone by a 20-minute five-goal burst from the visitors. Naturally, Symons was disappointed after his side threw away a two-goal lead but said: “I don’t think one bad result will necessarily hamper my chances [of getting the job]. The process in place is about looking at the longer term.
“I put out a relatively young side but I don’t regret it. Taking that into consideration and utilising a very big squad, I would never put out a side I didn’t feel were capable of winning.”
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The hosts appeared to be cruising after Moussa Dembele’s first Fulham goals fired them into a 2-0 lead shortly before half-time.
But Chris Martin pulled one back from the penalty spot before the interval and Fulham capitulated after the break as goals by Johnny Russell, Jeff Hendrick and two from Simon Dawkins in a whirlwind spell from the Championship leaders through.
“The difference between the first-half and second couldn’t have been more contrasting,” said Symons.
“We scored two goal and if anything nullified them. But conceding a goal with virtually the last kick of the half was disappointing and gave them a huge lift.
“The second-half was awful. We didn’t track them and were found wanting but it’s always a danger with a young inexperienced side.
“It’s a harsh lesson for them but it won’t be the worse thing in the world. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
