Premier League side Hull City announced that Manager Steve Bruce has held "informal" talks with the FA about the vacant England manager's job, according to the PA. The club had earlier described the contact as "informal discussions," but Bruce revealed he had been in an interview which he hoped "went okay." Hull said that no "official approach has been made by the FA" and echoed Sunderland, whose Manager Sam Allardyce remains the "front-runner despite developments, in calling for a swift decision." A statement from Hull City read, "The club can confirm that manager Steve Bruce has held informal discussions regarding the England vacancy, although no official approach has been received from the FA" (PA, 7/19). In London, Luke Edwards reported Bruce was contacted by FA Technical Dir Dan Ashworth "over the weekend and has other heavyweight supporters" at the FA. Should Bruce get the job, "there is a chance he will name BBC pundit Alan Shearer as his assistant." Shearer has been "out of management since a short and unsuccessful spell in charge" of Newcastle back in '09 but he possesses all of the relevant coaching badges (TELEGRAPH, 7/19).
