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HULL, England: Iain Dowie was appointed as the new manager of Hull after Phil Brown paid the price for a run of four defeats which has left the club second from bottom of the Premier League.
Former Oldham, Crystal Palace and Charlton boss Dowie was unveiled as the new manager at a press conference at the KC Stadium, and voiced confidence that he could transform the club's fortunes.
Dowie, who has been handed the job only until the end of the season, will have nine matches to save Hull, who are currently three points from safety, from relegation, a fate which would leave the club facing serious financial difficulties.
"It's a city that has a ferocious fan base, the infrastructure is here," Dowie said. "It's an area that can more than justify having a Premier League team.
"I think there is some value in the team. I think it's a working-class area that deserves a team that reflects that - a team that plays with a bit of tenacious endeavour, that is aggressive on the field and also pass the ball a bit."
Dowie said his predecessor deserved praised for the job he had done in guiding Hull into the top flight and keeping them there last season.
"I'm only going to talk about the good things Phil Brown has done, it's very important he should be recognised for the job he has done here.
"He should be applauded for his job, this is just a different chapter. I've had it in my life, sometimes you get curve balls."
Precedent suggests changing managers in mid-season rarely delivers a significant change in fortunes, but Hull chairman Adam Pearson believes the club has a fighting chance of survival in the top flight.
"We feel that we've got a quarter of the season to go with some winnable games within that," Pearson said. "It's not a fixture list that's packed full of 'top four' games, it's a fixture list with games where we would expect to get some points."
Pearson added: "Ian is up for the challenge and we are in a position we need to fight and battle for every point.
"I think they are classic Iain Dowie attributes and I am sure he will bring that to this club and we are all in this fight together and we are looking for that fresh impetus to get us over the line, 13, 14, 15 points - whatever that is but we are still going to need to win four games."
Dowie's Hull reign will start on Saturday with a trip to bottom side Portsmouth, who had a nine-point penalty for going into administration confirmed on Wednesday, leaving them with little realistic prospect of avoiding the drop.
Dowie, who will be assisted by Steve Wigley and Tim Flowers, has been out of the game since leaving Newcastle, where he was assistant to Alan Shearer, following the Magpies' relegation at the end of last season. - AFP/fa
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