Hull fans hope to block new name but retain chairman

Dr Allam revealed plans last summer to re-name the Premier League outfit as Hull Tigers in an attempt to tap into the lucrative sponsorship market and make the club self-sufficient.

That intention, however, seems to be in tatters following the revelation on Monday that the FA Council will be recommended to reject the idea at their next meeting on April 9.

Allam’s reaction yesterday was to accuse the governing body of “prejudice from the outset”. The Tigers’ chairman has now called on what he describes as “the silent majority” to back his plan when a poll of season pass holders takes place later this month.

City Till We Die, the group set up last year to fight the name change, has welcomed the news of a ballot.

Spokesman Mark Gretton last night told The Yorkshire Post: “The timing (of the FA’s announcement about the Council being recommended to block Allam’s proposal) did take us by surprise on Monday.

“As a committee, we had all been planning for April 9 so it rather took us on the hop. But it was a pleasant surprise, all the same.

“It isn’t over yet, though. As far as we understand, the final decision still rests with the FA Council and the club can still make further submissions to them.”

Allam, who has repeatedly threatened to walk away if he cannot re-name the club Hull Tigers, became embroiled in a war of words with supporters almost from the moment it was clear there was opposition to his plan.

As a result, he has come in for criticism from a section of the KC Stadium crowd, who have chanted their support for retaining the club’s current identity.

‘We say no, Allam, we say no,’ has been just one of several chants given an airing during this season, while fans have also chanted ‘City Till We Die’ 19 minutes and four seconds into games – in recognition of 1904, the year the club was formed.

However, despite the criticism that the Egyptian-born businessman has received over the issue, there is also undoubted gratitude for what he has done for Hull since saving the club late in 2010.

The Allam family have poured in more than £70m since then and led Hull back into the Premier League. Next month will also bring a first appearance in an FA Cup semi-final since 1930.

Gretton, a Hull fan for 30 years, added: “We have said from the start that this has never been about being against the Allams or anything like that. It is purely about retaining our identity as a club. As supporters, we have been happy with the way the Allam family has run the club., all apart from this attempt to change the name to Hull Tigers.

“It would be a good thing for all concerned if, after this is all over, he could find a way to say, ‘This hasn’t worked out, so let’s forget it all and get back to taking Hull City forward together’.

“I am sure a vast majority of City fans would welcome that. At City Till We Die, we would be so happy to work with the club on that objective.”

City Till We Die members are acutely aware that the issue will not be resolved until the FA Council make their decision on April 9.

With that in mind, the focus is now on the club’s planned ballot of their 18,000 season ticket holders.

Gretton added: “We fancied the idea of a ballot of pass holders back in November. We wrote to the club to suggest that, but we never heard anything back. It was around that time that the owner was making it clear no one was going to tell him how to run his businesses.

“Our thinking was that a full ballot involving pass holders would be a chance to put this completely to bed.

“There have been so many polls, ranging from various fan groups to newspapers and the official supporters club. All have come down in favour of staying as we are. But a poll of pass holders would surely be a definitive thing. At the moment, we are still awaiting details of the ballot and how it will be held. Once we have them, we will work hard in encouraging fans to vote.”

He concluded: “Right from the first protest, we have been amazed by the support that the fans have shown. The football family has also been great, we have literally had messages of support from all over.”