FORMER York City Knights RL coach Richard Agar was taking temporary charge of Hull today following the sacking of John Kear.

Challenge Cup winner Kear, 51, who helped deliver Hull's first major silverware for 23 years, was shown the door at the KC Stadium after they were knocked out at the first hurdle at Bradford.

Hull have approached Bradford for old boy Steve McNamara who will become the youngest head coach in Super League if he returns to the Boulevard as number one.

Although Agar, who joined Hull at the start of last season from the Knights, has been put in temporary charge it seems just a matter of time before McNamara becomes Kear's permanent successor.

The 34-year-old Great Britain international played for his home-town team from 1989 to 1996 after joining them from amateurs Skirlaugh at the age of 17.

He went on to play for Bradford, Wakefield and Huddersfield before joining the backroom staff at Odsal at the end of the 2003 season and he is currently number two to Brian Noble.

The draw for the fifth round of the Powergen Challenge Cup is taking place tonight - don't miss tomorrow's Evening Press to find out the Knights' opposition.

Updated: 09:46 Tuesday, April 04, 2006