TWELVE months ago to the day, Steve Bruce sat before the media at the KC Stadium and explained why he had made his return to management with Hull City.
"The big thing we have been talking about is the ambition to get the club get back into the Premier League," Bruce said.
"We know it's not easy, but the reason I am here is I believe we have the ability to do that.
"We all want to be in the Premier League and I want to be a top-flight manager again."
Bruce's words were full of ambition and positivity.
But behind the smiles at his unveiling was a steely determination to prove people wrong following his sacking at Sunderland.
His appointment at the Tigers had shocked many in football, for having managed in the top flight for a decade, a drop down to the Championship was significant.
But the former Wigan, Sunderland and Birmingham manager, and his new bosses Assem and Ehab Allam, believed it would be only a temporary step back on his, and Hull City's, way back to the top.
Today, a year on, and both can look back at their decision to unite with satisfaction.
In a little over two months, both will be competing in the Premier League again. Not bad considering that was the target for Bruce over a three-year period when signing on the dotted line.
Although vice-chairman Ehab Allam admits promotion came quicker than anticipated, it is something both he and father Assem were confident Bruce would deliver.
Casting his mind back to meetings with Bruce ahead of his appointment, he said his desire, determination and hunger were the qualities which set him apart.
"It is quite fitting to look back to the period when we were looking for a manager last year, and our meetings with Steve," Allam told the Mail.
"It was his hunger and desire for the job, and his belief in what we could achieve, that really stood him out from the other candidates.
"We spoke to a number of managers who had Premier League experience, and had a track record of getting sides promoted, but none were as enthusiastic and demonstrated the hunger that Steve did.
"We said at the time that we felt Steve was the man who could not only get us to the Premier League, but also could keep us there.
"He has done the first part of the job, and now we are confident he will do the second."
Bruce's success at the Tigers, leading them to automatic promotion to the top flight for the first time, has quite rightly made him a cult hero in East Yorkshire.
But, with that success, and such a strong track record behind him, it has brought the expected speculation of interest from elsewhere.
This week, former club Wigan were reported to have made an approach for Bruce to return to the DW Stadium with the relegated FA Cup winners.
Although denying any official approach has been made to either the club or Bruce himself, Allam says such speculation was to be expected.
"Steve is a very good manager and he came to us with something to prove and has done that superbly," he said.
"He has done an amazing job, is quite deservedly a Premier League manager again and I am sure he is looking forward to the challenge.
"It is only to be expected that a manager of Steve's ability attracts interest from elsewhere. If you were a football club in need of a new manager, why wouldn't you consider Steve?"
Although City, and Bruce, were quick to deny any official approach from Wigan, the sceptics will say that is only the last step in such circumstances.
Most commonly, a great deal of discreet 'sounding out' is done in the background before such a move is made. The official approach is usually the last formality.
That, of course, may mean an official approach from Wigan may still be forthcoming, but even if it does, Allam feels confident Bruce will remain at the KC.
"The reality is, you can't force anybody to stay in a job. If they want to leave, in any business, they leave, but I can't see any reason at all why Steve would want to leave Hull City.
"People stay in their jobs if they are happy and if they have good relationships with those they work with, and we fully believe that to be the case with Steve," Allam added.
"We feel we have a great relationship with him and believe he is very happy here.
"One of the reasons we changed things at the end of the previous season was to ensure we had a direct relationship with the manager.
"This allows us to deal with any issues as they arise, and has meant we have been able to support Steve at key times last season.
"The January transfer window was a good example of that. It was a tough time for us with Allam Marine, but we committed to signing Robbie Brady, David Meyler and George Boyd because we were in a very good position and wanted to push for promotion.
"A lot of that comes down to the relationship we have with Steve.
"We speak very highly of Steve and he does of us. He has enjoyed great success with us so far, and we believe he can do going forwards.
"Steve is an ambitious manager, and he knows that as owners, we have big aspirations for the club going forward."
