Hull City unhappy at leaked email calling for Championship to be abandoned

The Tigers insist their primary concern is for the health and safety of players and staff, but any stance taken by a club at the moment will be viewed through the prism of how it affects their chances of promotion or relegation. Despite coach Grant McCann saying he is confident of turning Hull’s fortunes around if matches resume, they are in serious danger of going down.

Today the Football League board will discuss returning to training in small groups on Monday. But Hull vice-chairman Ehab Allam emailed League chairman Rick Parry and the Championship’s other 23 teams to call for the season to be abandoned without promotion or relegation.

“I do not presently believe that the 2019-20 season can be safely completed without unnecessarily exposing Championship clubs to potential legal action in the event that one or more of its employees (or their family members) were to become infected with Covid-19,” he wrote.

“My position remains that the season should be voided and this means of drawing a conclusion to the 2019-20 season being put to a formal vote.”

Allam also warned the Tigers would vote against proposals allowing contracts due to expire on June 30 to be extended. Hull have 11 players in that position.

“We are disappointed that a letter which was intended to remain private between the EFL and other Championship clubs has been leaked,” they said. “Each club will, quite understandably, have their own view on how and when to return and we fully respect that.

“The privacy of discussions between member clubs and the league is paramount to ensuring honest and open debate.”

Hull are two points above the relegation zone with nine games left, having not won in the league since New Year’s Day. The day after the suspension of matches they were due to host Charlton Athletic, who knew victory would lift them out of the relegation zone, dropping the Tigers into it.

Hull had nine players injured for their last game, a 5-1 defeat at Stoke City, with some not expected to play again this season. They also sold top goalscorers Jared Bowen and Kamil Grosicki on deadline day.

Now, McCann says he will be “much more confident” if his team takes to the field again.

“To lose three or four big players out of your team in the Championship is huge,” he said. “We lost 10, it was a complete disaster. If you want to add losing Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki, it took its toll on the whole group.

“If we do start again I’d feel a lot more confident and comfortable knowing we’ve got some of our big players back.”

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