Bruce says record bids will not put Tigers in financial jeopardy

The Tigers manager is desperate to boost his side’s attacking armoury and wants both strikers at the KC Stadium.

A fee of £6.5m has been agreed with Everton for Jelavic with a further £1m due to be paid dependent on the Tigers staying up. A bid of £6.5m was also lodged with West Bromwich Albion on Friday night for Long, who came within a whisker of moving to the KC Stadium during the summer transfer window only for the plug to be pulled by the Baggies at the 11th hour.

Should both deals come off, it will represent a considerable outlay for a club whose previous record fee is the £5.25m paid for Tom Huddlestone in the summer.

Considering the financial mess the Tigers got into towards the end of their last stint in the Premier League when ruinous contracts and the £5m record purchase of Jimmy Bullard meant it took the arrival of the Allam family in December, 2010, to banish fears of the club going into administration, concerns have been voiced among supporters as to whether their club is heading down a similar road.

Bruce, however, insists that is not the case for City, who sit five points clear of the relegation zone following Saturday’s 2-0 loss at home to Chelsea.

He said: “Everything is a gamble but what I have always said is that we never want to put the club in a financial mess.

“With the size of the money invested in the Premier League these days, the chairman has put his money where his mouth is. And the one thing he won’t do is put the club in distress.”

The Allam family bankrolled City’s promotion success last season and similar capital has been introduced this term in an attempt to keep the East Riding club in the top flight. Should the double offer for Long and Jelavic come off, sources at the KC have indicated this would take the Allam family’s spending on Hull to around £90.

Despite that, chairman Assem Allam has become a controversial figure in the East Riding in recent months since revealing his plans to change the club’s name to Hull Tigers. The Football Association is expected to rule on that matter in the Spring.

On his chairman, Bruce added: “There is a lot of nonsense over a name change. For me, the chairman has not only rescued the club but has signalled his intent to say, ‘We want to try to stay here’.

“He wants his club in the Premier League and he is trying to back me as much as he can. The outside world talk about us in the wrong vein, like he is someone who has come in and doesn’t understand.

“He has been here for 45 years and wants the community of Hull to have a Premier League team. He has put in a lot of money to back that so everyone should be delighted he is the chairman.

“I have certainly enjoyed working for him and trying to do some business shows you what we are and what we are trying to be.”

City spent the weekend talking terms with Jelavic, who has fallen down the pecking order at Goodison Park under Roberto Martinez.

The 28-year-old netted twice against QPR in the FA Cup earlier this month but he has started just five Premier League games under Martinez, who has admitted that the Croatian striker needs regular footbal to realise his dream of playing in this summer’s World Cup.

Asked what he likes about Jelavic, Bruce said: “Goals. Goals. He is 6ft 2in and when he burst onto the scene at Rangers, I saw him play with (Sone) Aluko and liked what I saw.

“He had a wonderful time in Scotland, came down here and had a wonderful year with Everton. This year he has found it frustrating but we watched him again against QPR and he reminded us all what a good player he is. We will try our best.

“As for Shane Long, we are not sure about that. There is a new manager that has gone in and there has been a conversation at boardroom level – it never goes manager to manager now.

“We have to wait until we know if he is available or unavailable and I’m sure we will find out in the next few days. And while I am never privy to boardroom talk but the indications are that we might have a chance.”

Bruce, meanwhile, confirmed Saturday’s Yorkshire Post story that Aaron Mclean is wanted by League One Bradford City following the sale of Nahki Wells.

Jack Hobbs could also be set for a permanent move from the KC after Reading had a bid accepted for the defender, who has been on loan at Nottingham Forest since the summer.