Hull City owners staying away after vandals strike

Chairman Assem Allam and son Ehab were the notable absentees at the KC Stadium on the opening day of the season as the Tigers beat Huddersfield Town 2-0.

Bruce explained the non-appearance of the Allams, who have been in conflict with a section of the club’s supporters for almost two years after trying – and failing – to rebrand as ‘Hull Tigers’, was down to attacks on the family home and property during the summer.

“There are idiots who have spooked their family,” said Bruce, who expects Dame N’Doye to join Trabzonspor this week for £2.5m.

“It has happened two or three times over the summer so they have thought the best thing for everyone is that they stay out of the road.

“I think they understand that it is only a tiny minority who do things like throwing bricks at windows and damaging your cars.

“In my opinion, that is sad. They have owned the club during the club’s most successful two years, with the FA Cup final and (playing in) Europe.

“People forget that he (Assem) has put a lot of money into the club. Before he bought the club, you wouldn’t say he was an avid football fan but he has bought the club for the community of Hull.

“He didn’t want to see it go down the tubes. There are not many people who could have done that.”

The Allams missed a goal apiece for debutants Sam Clucas and Chuba Akpom as Huddersfield were beaten despite creating several decent chances of their own in the second half.

Bruce, who also handed bows in a Hull shirt to Ryan Taylor and Isaac Hayden, was delighted with a scoring start for the duo.

He is, though, keen to strengthen further and hopes to add Brentford striker Andre Gray to the squad despite having a £6m bid turned down last week.

Gray came off the bench to score for the Bees in a 2-2 draw at home to Ipswich Town and manager Marinus Dijhuizen admitting a resolution either way is likely in the coming days.

He added: “For Andre and for us, I hope we don’t have to wait. Hull know the price and if they pay it then he is gone.”

On Hull’s pursuit of Gray, Bruce, who admitted no further progress had been made in the quest to sign Shaun Maloney from MLS side Chicago Fire, added: “We are still talking.

“We still haven’t met their valuation but we hope we can. He scored so his price has probably gone up again. It is well documented that we are keen so let’s hope we can pull something off.”

Asked if the Allams’ decision to stay away from games in the future would make any difference to the backing he can expect in the transfer market, Bruce replied: “We have just signed a player (Moses Odubajo) for £3.5m on Friday so that will not change.

“I hope not anyway. There is certainly no evidence of it changing. I manage the football side and they run the club. It (the owners staying away) has got nothing to do with the club being sold or anything like that.”

Huddersfield manager Chris Powell, meanwhile, felt there was plenty for his side to build on despite losing for a fourth straight opening day.

He added: “I would have preferred a win but, as I said to the players in the dressing room, there was a lot to like.

“We have to carry that forward now. I have always known we were a good team and we certainly showed that in spells. There were a lot of plusses to take into the rest of the season.”

Another Yorkshire manager encouraged by his side’s efforts despite not ending the opening day with a hoped for victory was Leeds United’s Uwe Rosler.

The Elland Road club had to settle for a point from a 1-1 draw despite going ahead through Mirco Antenucci with just seven minutes remaining.

Rosler said: “We dropped two points but I am not disappointed at all. This group of players set a high standard and that is now the level I am looking for.”

Sheffield Wednesday began Carlos Carvalhal’s reign with a 2-0 win over League One champions Bristol City.

Reports: Pages 2-5.