From financial meltdown to the Premier League – a decade to remember

2001March: Adam Pearson, Leeds United’s commercial director, is revealed as the new owner of Hull City after buying the club from administrators Kroll, Buchler and Phillips in a deal worth £360,000. Following the sale, the Tigers go on an 11-game unbeaten run to book a place in the Division Three play-offs. However, after beating Leyton Orient 1-0 in the home leg, City lose the return 2-0 at Brisbane Road.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Mar 2011, 09:46 BST

2002

February: Despite investing around £1m in new players, City are some way off the pace in the promotion fight and manager Brian Little is sacked following a 1-0 home defeat to Macclesfield Town.

May: Jan Molby resigns as manager of Kidderminster Harriers and immediately takes charge of City ahead of the final game.

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October: A 1-0 defeat at, ironically, Kidderminster brings an end to Molby’s reign with Hull sitting 18th in the basement division. Peter Taylor is named as the Dane’s successor.

December: The Tigers bring the curtain down on their time at Boothferry Park with a defeat to Darlington before moving to the new state-of-the art KC Stadium.

2004

May: Automatic promotion is sealed from Division Three (League Two) with a 2-1 win at Yeovil Town as Taylor’s men finish the season as runners-up to Doncaster Rovers. Nick Barmby signs for his home-town club from Leeds United later that summer.

2005

April: Peter Taylor’s side go on to clinch back-to-back promotions as a goalless draw at home to Swindon Town proves enough to guarantee a second-placed finish in League One behind champions Luton Town.

2006

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June: A few weeks after Hull finish a respectable 18th in the Championship, Taylor is lured away by Crystal Palace. Colchester United manager Phil Parkinson succeeds Taylor and is immediately handed a £2m transfer kitty.

November: Despite the huge outlay on players, City struggle and Parkinson is sacked with his side sitting second bottom in the table. Phil Brown takes temporary charge.

2007

April: Dean Windass’s eighth goal of the season is enough to beat Cardiff City and ensure Hull stay up at the expense of Leeds United. After the game, it is revealed Pearson is in talks with three consortia interested in taking over.

June 11: Russell Bartlett completes a £10m deal to buy Hull from Pearson and business partner Peter Wilkinson. Pearson stays on as football consultant but leaves a few months later to become chairman of Derby County.

2009

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November: Hull chairman Paul Duffen leaves after the size of the club’s debt is revealed. Bartlett brings Pearson back to the KC Stadium from Pride Park with the twin target of stabilising the finances and attracting new investment.

2010

April: City are relegated from the Premier League.

November: After weeks of negotiations, the Allam family agree in principle to buy the club from Bartlett in a deal that will see the Essex-based businessman retain around 10 per cent

December: The deal is concluded but with the Allams taking total control after discovering a cash injection of £30m is needed to save City, along with a further £10m being required in loan guarantees.

Related topics:Adam PearsonPremier LeagueLeeds United