Tigers still battling to avert cash crisis

The Tigers are all but mathematically relegated from the Premier League and facing an uncertain future due to debts having soared to 35m.

Meetings have been taking place all week between decision-makers at the club to try to plot a path through the substantial fall in income that comes with demotion to the Championship.

A national newspaper claimed Hull were planning to go into administration "within days" to exploit a loophole caused by a major difference in insolvency policy between the Football League and Premier League.

In 2007, the Football League changed their rules so that any club entering administration after the fourth Thursday in March would receive a points deduction the following season. In contrast, the Premier League opted to maintain a deadline of "the conclusion of the final game of the season".

This would mean that if Hull go into administration before the end of the Liverpool home game on May 9, any points deduction could not be held over until next season.

In a prepared statement, however, Hull have firmly denied any such plan exists.

It read: "The main focus at this point in time is on the remaining two fixtures of the current season in order to try to secure an 18th place finish, and to continue business and operations as normal. Following the last game against Sunderland, the board have accepted the inevitability of relegation to the Championship for the 2010-11 season.

"The consequences of relegation have a material impact on the revenues of the club and, as has been widely reported, the board have been meeting to discuss the management of the transition from the Premier League to the Championship.

"This should not be surprising and there are no plans or intentions for Hull City to enter into any form of insolvency process."

Hull's debts spiralled out of control following their promotion to the top flight in 2008.

Former chairman Paul Duffen resigned in October following a damaging report from auditors which questioned the club's ability to continue as a going concern.

The Tigers tried with little success to offload a number of fringe players in the January transfer window, leaving the club facing a crippling wage bill of almost 39m.

Owner Russell Bartlett, said: "It is obviously very disappointing for everyone at the club to have been relegated.

"As we had anticipated, we will need to reduce our outgoings to a level that is sustainable over the longer term.

"The management is working flat out to achieve this objective and I am very impressed with the commitment being shown by our staff."