Dowie ready for battle and targets long-term Tigers stint

IAIN DOWIE hopes to be at Hull beyond the end of the season after being appointed manager of the Barclays Premier League strugglers.

The 45-year-old was unveiled yesterday as the successor to Phil Brown, who was sacked on Monday with the Tigers second from bottom of the league following last weekend’s injury-time defeat by Arsenal.

It marks a return to the game for the former QPR and Crystal Palace manager for the first time since he assisted Alan Shearer at Newcastle in their ultimately unsuccessful fight against relegation last season.