Sergej Jakirovic's 'relief' now Hull City can plot Championship play-off final
Sergej Jakirovic says it is a "relief" for Hull City to at least know when their Championship play-off final will be and against whom, but the Tigers coach refused to get dragged into the debate about whether it was right for Southampton to be thrown out of the competition.
That was the punishment handed to the Saints on Tuesday when they were found guilty of spying not only on play-off opponents Middlesbrough, but Oxford United and Ipswich Town as well.
It has been a difficult build-up for both finalists, but Jakirovic insists it has been no distraction for his experienced squad.
"For sure it's a relief because since Tuesday evening we know against who we are playing," said the former Bosnia midfielder.
"Of course, we prepared (for) at least last seven days for Southampton because they won in the semi-finals.
"And then from Tuesday evening we started to prepare this game against Middlesbrough, which is maybe a little bit short.
"But we already played two times against Southampton and against Middlesbrough, so we know everything about them. They know everything about us.
"I'm optimistic because we had a few very good sessions.
"Our main focus since we reached the finals, it's this final game. So no matter who will be our opponent, our focus and concentration is on our team, what we can do there, how we can use our advantages there. And then this is the main thing."
Jakirovic has been bemused by why Saints felt the need to spy on a Boro training session two days before the semi-final first leg, but conceded they had "crossed a line" in doing so.
"They crossed a line, 100 per cent," he commented.
"The most important is that they caught him. 48 hours before. So this is good.
"But it's not on me (to say what the punishment should be). My opinion doesn't really matter because the independent panel brought this decision.
So my job is to prepare my team for the final and try to get to the Premier League."
Asked if it would have been better had Hull simply been promoted without a final, Jakirovic said with a twinkle in his eye:
"I think this is the best idea.
"This is not a question for me, but if you ask me, it's the best scenario for our club."
Kyle Joseph will miss the final and the next 10 weeks after surgery on the ankle he injured in the play-off semi-final second leg at Millwall.
"I hope he will be fit for pre-season.
"He decided to have surgery because on his other ankle (in a previous injury), he didn't. He didn't do that, and then he had problems."
Cody Drameh and Hadziahmetovic are both back in training. Manchester United loanee Toby Collyer will miss the final with injury, but is expected to be at Wembley to cheer the Tigers on.