FORMER Saints boss Ruben Selles is closing in on the Hull City job after impressing during his troubled tenure at Reading.

Selles, 41, looks set to be named as the permanent manager of his third club in England after being head-hunted by Championship outfit Hull.

The Spaniard has managed in difficult financial conditions at Reading, whose owner Dai Yongge has so far failed to find much-needed new investment.

Despite that, the Berkshire side are sixth in League One having survived a six-point deduction to comfortably beat relegation last campaign. 

Hull sacked manager Liam Rosenior at the end of last season after failing to finish in the top six and have since parted ways with his replacement.

READ MORE: Why have Southampton not sacked Martin and will they now?

They sacked new head coach Tim Walter after just 17 league games in charge, with the team in the Championship relegation zone. 

Our sister outlet Reading Chronicle report that Selles, who has earned hero status, has said his goodbyes and is set to depart for Humberside.

Selles arrived at Saints in the summer of 2022 as former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl's new assistant manager in a shake-up of first-team staff.

He served as an assistant coach to Nathan Jones before taking the manager job himself when the Welshman was sacked in February 2023.

Selles was unable to prevent relegation as he oversaw 16 Premier League games, winning twice and drawing four of his matches.

Saints were also knocked out of the FA Cup at home to League Two Grimsby Town, who went 2-0 ahead in an eventual 2-1 win in March 2023.

Selles was under contract until the end of the season and departed St Mary's following relegation with current boss Russell Martin taking his place.

Martin's Saints then met Selles and Reading in pre-season just weeks later, running out 4-2 winners at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.