Ehab Allam backs Grant McCann and promises to add 'experience and nous' to his Hull City squad

In an open letter to supporters, published on the club's official website, Allam stood by McCann, whose position has come under scrutiny after one Championship win since New Year's Day saw the Tigers drop into the third tier for the first time since 2005.

“We firmly believe that Grant McCann is the man best placed to lead our fightback,” said the son of owner Assem, who oversees the running of the club. “Undoubtedly, we have struggled since the turn of the year and everyone at the club shares the blame for that, myself included.

“Grant is an excellent, hungry young manager and is desperate to right the wrongs of last season and we are giving him our full backing to do that.

“We also believe the squad we have possesses the talent necessary to take the club back into the Championship. Recruitment over the coming weeks will be crucial in supplementing that and giving Grant the tools he needs for a successful League One campaign. There is a lot of youthful promise in the playing group as it stands and one of our priorities in the transfer market is to add the experience and nous necessary to further develop that potential.”

The lack of ambition the club has shown in the transfer market is a stick regularly used to beat the Allams, who have been looking to sell the club since the 2014 PR disaster of trying to change its name to Hull Tigers.

Last season was a clear case in point, when the club sold its two top-scorers, Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki, to West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion for £22m and £800,000 respectively on deadline day. Grosicki, who was entering the final six months of his contract, went in the morning but Bowen's move was in doubt until it was completed after the deadline, leaving no time to sign a suitable replacement. Hull scored nine goals in the remaining 16 league matches of the campaign.

“Off the pitch, we concluded transfer dealings which were financially very good for the club but, on the flipside, a disastrous second half to the season led to a relegation fight which, despite the hard work from players and coaching staff, sadly ended in relegation to League One,” was Allam's assessment.

The most recent of many protests against Hull's Egyptian owners came as the final home match of the season was being played at home to Luton Town, days after a humiliating 8-0 defeat against Wigan Athletic. Allam used his letter to call for unity, adding: “Last season was far from good enough and our fans and partners deserve better and we are all working hard to put things right.”

He also said that: “We must use the pain we all feel now as a positive, as we look to address the issues that led to our relegation.”

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