• Former Portsmouth manager Paul Hart on Hull shortlist
• No appointment until Phil Brown’s severance deal is done

Paul Hart has emerged as a leading contender to become Hull City’s new manager. The experienced 57-year-old, who has had stints in charge of Portsmouth and Crystal Palace, has held talks with Adam Pearson, Hull’s former chairman who is now head of football operations.

However no appointment will be made until a severance deal is agreed with the outgoing Phil Brown.

Gary Speed, currently assisting Kevin Blackwell at Sheffield United, is another name on Hull’s shortlist but is understood to be unsure about accepting the challenge.

Iain Dowie, who stepped in when Brown was placed on gardening leave in March but failed to prevent the club being relegated from the Premier League, wants the job but is now considered an outside candidate.

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• French left-back made 56 appearances in two years
• Other players asked to defer proportion of their wages

The Hull left-back Bernard Mendy has left the club by mutual consent. The 28-year-old Frenchman made 56 appearances for the side after arriving on a free transfer in July 2008.

“Everybody at Hull City would like to thank Bernard for his efforts during his two seasons at the KC Stadium and we wish him well for the future,” said a club statement.

Mendy’s departure is unlikely to be the last as the club seek to stabilise their finances following their relegation to the Championship.

The club’s head of football operations, Adam Pearson, put a proposal to players last week which would mean they would defer a proportion of their wages in the short term to ease the burden over the summer months.

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