Thursday 15 September 2016 13:45, UK
Hull defender Alex Bruce thinks father Steve did not want to leave the club after four glorious seasons on Humberside.
Bruce senior departed his role as Hull boss in July, less than a week after missing out to Sam Allardyce in the race to succeed Roy Hodgson as England manager.
Son Alex admits the parting of the ways was "disappointing" and says the 55-year-old's departure is indicative of the fast-changing nature of modern-day football.
"I think sometimes at football clubs, things change," Alex told Sky Sports Now.
"It was obviously disappointing after the success we had last season, achieving promotion, and if dad was being truthful, he would never have wanted to leave. However, relationships break down and it was agreed for the good of the club that it was right for him to move on.
"He wished everyone all the best and obviously Mike [Phelan] has taken over and done very well, but he's absolutely fine. He's content. He's fine.
"We had some great times [together at Hull]," he added.
"We had two promotions in the last four years, playing in the Premier League and winning at Wembley in the Play-Off final. Everything looked rosy and of course it's very disappointing but that's football, things can change very quickly and in a matter of eight weeks he was gone. It shows what football's like."
Mike Phelan stepped up to take caretaker charge of Hull after his former Manchester United team-mate left the club and got off to a flier with a 2-1 opening-day win over champions Leicester.
Defender Curtis Davies admits Phelan would be a popular appointment among the players, adding he is surprised Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant is yet to have been given the job on a permanent basis.
"I don't really know what goes on behind-the-scenes, but obviously with the start we've had, you would have thought he would have signed already," Davies said.
"Last time I was on this show, I said it was about getting in the players he wanted and maybe building a squad before he put his name forward fully.
"But the players are in now and I thought the next step would be to sign a contract. I don't know what goes on with Mick and his representatives and the club, but ultimately we want him to stay because a change now I think would be quite drastic and could [adversely] affect us."
