Rumblings aplenty around the city of Hull and the Tiger Nation after Roy Keane's not unexpected departure from Sunderland.
As a list of candidates for the vacancy begins to collect itself, the name of Phil Brown can't be far away. He is from South Shields, a lifelong Sunderland supporter and is currently in possession of a fantastic reputation.
Obviously we'd all say he should go nowhere. In Hull he is a legend, an icon, a groundbreaker, an innovator. He has enabled us, finally, to live all our dreams after a century of being run - either in boardroom or dug-out - by wasters, crooks, charlatans, bullies and introverts. Until Adam Pearson took over, Hull City were nothing to anyone beyond its hardcore. Brown was Pearson's last appointment, and he has so far saved us from certain relegation, taken us to Wembley and consequent promotion to the top flight, and outwitted some of the greatest tactical and creative minds in the English game.
So why would he go to Sunderland? His heart has never ruled his head so far, hence his treatment of individuals like Stuart Elliott, David Livermore, Ryan France, Wayne Brown and Dean Windass, all of whom have had their comfort zones affected by Brown's professional ruthlessness. And he was correct to do so on every count. The moolah in wages and transfer funds will be higher at the Stadium of Light, but so will the expectation, the pressure, the level of impatience, the capacity to require instant remedies. There will be no three-year plans under Brown, as a year of crap football in the name of re-shaping will cut no ice on those terraces.
Brown can choose to establish a deeply unfashionable club as Premier League mainstays, or risk blowing his whole reputation on a club which, like its hated neighbours in black and white, puts itself on a pedestal that its achievements on the pitch don't merit. But maybe this time his heart will take precedence over his head, just like my own heart seems to be doing so right now.
I certainly pray he doesn't go, but we supporters are powerless. Paul Duffen holds the aces here, assuming Sunderland decide Brown is their man.
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