The sinking ship which is Hull City

[Bentos]

In twelve days time, the new Premier League season will begin. At this late stage in pre-season, we are without manager, have a dwindling support due to numerous off-the-field issues regarding our owners, the implementation of a concession-less membership scheme sticking in the craw of many. The club has been for sale for the best part of two years, with our owners threatening to walk away within 24 hours if the club's name wasn't changed - they didn't. After winning at Wembley in the final game of last season, hope was high with talk of a takeover being close to completion. A fee was agreed with an American consortium twice, but on both occasions the goalposts were moved by the owners and the fee raised. Around a fortnight ago, our owners withdrew from the sale of the club, citing a desire to not disrupt the club's trading before the start of the new season. Only a few days later, Steve Bruce resigned, complaining in part at the lack of activity in the transfer market.

The reason for today's post? One of our better players of the last two seasons, Mohamed Diame, is on the verge of leaving for Newcastle. Not because we've received an incredible offer that couldn't be turned down, but because we left a £3mil release clause in his contract which has been activated. Even as a second-tier side with Mike Ashley at the helm, Newcastle are a far safer and more stable option than us currently. And the worry is, more look set to follow. Players aren't happy with the situation, and bids are being tabled for the likes of Andy Robertson, Harry Maguire and Abel Hernandez - again, more of our better players. Even before the sale of any players, we are suffering an injury crisis which has left us with a threadbare squad and the possibility of having to draft in U21 players for the opening day.

In short, we're monumentally fucked...

 

[Haillay7]

I hadn't even realised we'd been linked with him until today. I also hadn't seen the fee, but if that's true I'm happy and sympathetic in equal measure. Were you aware of the clause before our reported offer?

Is this something, the issues at the club not Diame, that has been ongoing or is only during the off season?

 

[Bentos]

The clause was there when we were relegated from the Prem. It's pure incompetence that it's still there when we're about to start back in the Prem having been promoted.

The issues began 3 years ago with the first attempt to change the name. Things seem to have worsened with every interview and press release by the Allams since. The relationship between owners and fans is now beyond repair.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Surely there is no better or easier time to sell a Premier League club, given the guaranteed money for the next 3 + years now that Hull are there, even if it is just for one season. But plenty of clubs have looked likely to drop in pre season and done just fine in the past.

Guess it's all down to what Allam is asking for the club?

 

[Bentos]

They want to recoup the money they've loaned to the club over the years, so their asking price is over £100mil. Add to that the cost to buy the stadium management company, which I've heard will be around another £6mil. A lot of money for a club who don't own their ground, isn't it?

But, of course, it's dependent on more than just the asking price. The actual want to sell needs to be there also, and with the newfound wealth of the Premier League, I'm not convinced it is.

 

[Bentos]

There are now rumours that Bruce's assistant and current caretaker manager, Mike Phelan, has walked.

 

[Bentos]

And Gianfranco Zola has been approached. Not sure what to make of that...

 

[MagpieBee]

I hadn't even realised we'd been linked with him until today. I also hadn't seen the fee, but if that's true I'm happy and sympathetic in equal measure. Were you aware of the clause before our reported offer?

Is this something, the issues at the club not Diame, that has been ongoing or is only during the off season?

I think Diame has the same agent as Demba Ba had when he was with Newcastle, loves putting small release clauses into all of his clients contracts.

 

[Haillay7]

I think Diame has the same agent as Demba Ba had when he was with Newcastle, loves putting small release clauses into all of his clients contracts.

Aye, that was absolute sickner that. From the moment he signed for us he was being shopped around elsewhere by said agent. Feel for Hull if that's the case.

Completely forgot about the ownership fiasco.

 

[GodsGift]

Allam is a leach who needs ridding of asap.

From a selfish point of view though, I hope this means Sam Clucas - who I played alongside for three or four years as a kid - will get plenty of game time in the Prem.

 

[JimJams]

Bentos offer your services to the club for free! Isn't your first choice keeper out til January and your back up has just picked up a back injury. Get yourself some gloves lad and fill that gap!

 

[Bentos]

Diame announcement imminent. Now it's a waiting game to see who is next...

Yesterday, the team travelled from the stadium by coach to an airport where they boarded a flight to Austria. All apart from first team coach, Keith Bertschin, of course, who was informed as he stepped onto the coach, with suitcase in hand, that he had been sacked.

 

[Bentos]

Diame gone

 

[Bentos]

This morning there were rumours Coleman was going to walk if not given permission to speak to us. Now it appears that's not the case. It would also appear NEIL WARNOCK IS THE BACK UP PLAN

 

[MJA]

Let's face it, no manager with any credentials is going to be interested in joining this circus. If Warnock is interested, I'd seriously consider it as someone like that is probably your only chance of survival this season

 

[Bentos]

Boro have had a second bid for Harry Maguire rejected by the club. He's rumoured to want out, however.

 

[Abertawe]

Warnock would actually be your best shout at staying up. It'll be ugliest thing we've ever seen though.

 

[JimJams]

I agree. I think Warnocks had a rough ride of it when he's got sides into the Prem before anyway with Sheff Utd and QPR. Trouble is he's more a guy to get you up than keep you up. Given the current situation though he's not a bad shout is he?

 

[JoshBCFC]

Boro have had a second bid for Harry Maguire rejected by the club. He's rumoured to want out, however.

Not surprised Magurie wants out. How many players do you have in the squad that can play the opening game of the season?

 

[Bentos]

Not surprised Magurie wants out. How many players do you have in the squad that can play the opening game of the season?

We've an 18-man squad (including 3 goalkeepers) and currently 6 of those are injured. We can just about scrape together a starting XI, but we've only one centre-half fit so Huddlestone would probably have to drop into that position.

 

[Bentos]

 

[Stefan]

Yeah, I can definitely see Hull City winning the PL

 

[JoshBCFC]

We've an 18-man squad (including 3 goalkeepers) and currently 6 of those are injured. We can just about scrape together a starting XI, but we've only one centre-half fit so Huddlestone would probably have to drop into that position.

If you stay up this season it'll be the biggest miracle the Premier League has seen (except Leicester last season). Wouldn't be surprised if more of your players leave before the end of the window. Good luck, you'll bloody well need it. Would not surprise me if you ended up just like Blackpool.

 

[Bentos]

After a 3+ hour meeting with the chairman today, it has been agreed that Mike Phelan will take charge of our opening day game against Leicester at least.

 

[mistermagic]

Hull bought Mason on the 11th hour. Champions' League it is then for 2017/18.

 

[DarkSithLord]

David Burns ‏@bbcburnsy 38m38 minutes agoHull, England
EXCLUSIVE.. Sale of @HullCity to Chinese/Hong Kong consortium is OFF.

David Burns ‏@bbcburnsy 10m10 minutes agoHull, England
As I understand it the problem is not @HullCity on takeover being off. It's nothing Allam's have done. Assume fit & proper tests.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

How the hell do you manage to fail a fit and proper persons test??

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I thought you basically just had to fall short of being A) Kingpin of an international drugs cartel, or B) a Bond villain residing in a hollowed out volcano - otherwise it was all good? With some of the characters that've passed over the years, Allam must have been selling to some pretty dodgy fellas.

For Hull's sake, the main thing was they purchased a load of players, and some pretty handy ones at that, based on this takeover going through. They have a squad that should be competitive for the time being, giving them months to sort something else out.

 

[JimJams]

It's the bleep test. They always fuck it up on the bleep test.

 

[Gashead]

Given how shady some of these owner characters are, I didn't even know you could fail these fit and proper people tests. Even the Allam's passed it FFS.