Steve Bruce quits as Hull City manager 22 days before the Premier League season starts

Steve Bruce has left his role as the manager of Hull City, just 22 days before the newly-promoted club start their 2016/17 Premier League campaign.

The 55-year-old failed to take training on Friday morning and it is understood that relations have been strained this summer between Bruce and the Allams – the owners of the Tigers – who have put the club up for sale, restricting their transfer business during the close season.

The former Manchester United defender took over at the east Yorkshire outfit in 2012, and led them to an instant return to the top-flight last term, as they won the Championship play-off final against Sheffield Wednesday thanks to Mohamed Diame’s goal.

Bruce was interviewed for the vacant England job last week, but with Sunderland’s Sam Allardyce in pole position to be named as the new Three Lions boss, the Corbridge-born manager has already been linked with a move back to the Black Cats, who he took charge of from 2009-2011.