The former Crystal Palace, Charlton and QPR boss is now odds-on to replace the sacked Phil Brown and could be appointed tomorrow.

Reports also claimed Hull have been in contact with Portsmouth boss Avram Grant.

The Israeli - whose side coincidentally face Hull this weekend - could be made available as Pompey are in administration, but there have been conflicting claims that the former Chelsea manager is not interested.

Hull's stated intention to appoint before Saturday's trip to Fratton Park also seem to indicate a manager currently out of work might be most likely, and Dowie falls into that category.

Steve Coppell, formerly of Reading, was also linked with the post, while Gary Megson, Terry Venables, Gareth Southgate, Paul Jewell and Mark Hughes have been mentioned.

The current caretaker boss is Brian Horton, a former City boss.

Chairman Adam Pearson, who returned to the club in October, has been unequivocal in emphasising the importance of survival to Hull's financial well-being.

The club's latest set of accounts filed to Companies House once again include a warning from accountants Deloitte that they will have to cover a shortfall of £21million to continue as a going concern should they drop to the Coca-Cola Championship.

The figures also reveal a reduction in the club's bank debt from around £15million to £4.6m, with repayments of £7m and £2m made in January and February, while owner Russell Bartlett has pumped in £4m since July.

But the requirements in the event of relegation are what has raised the alarm, leading Pearson to seek a new man to galvanise the playing squad.

He said: "We feel that we've got a quarter of the season to go with some winnable games within that.

"It's not a fixture list that's packed full of 'top four' games, it's a fixture list with games where we would expect to get some points.

"We feel that we're best served by making the change now. That will bring a fresh face in, some new impetus and some new focus to get those 14 or 15 points that we're going to need."

Horton and fellow coach Steve Parkin are in temporary charge until a permanent replacement is appointed, and if an appointment is delayed they may have to guide the team against Pompey.

"Brian and Steve have got them at it in training today, they'll prepare the team for Saturday - they may well need to be in charge for Saturday so they're taking that very professionally and getting everybody ready for what is a massive game," Pearson said.

But he offered no guarantees over their longer-term future, saying: "They could remain in place, it depends on if it's a team or an individual manager we bring in. The situation has been explained to them."