By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – The bitter dispute over the name of English Premier League club Hull City has been stepped up with owner Assem Allam, who has pumped millions of his own money into the club, threatening to quit unless the English Football Association approves his plans.
Assam wants to rename the club, who play in amber and black and have exceeded expectations this season by climbing to a mid-table position after gaining promotion, Hull Tigers, dropping the word ‘City’ after 109 years in order to make it easier to market Hull around the world and give it wider appeal.
Hull fans have been protesting all season against the rebranding plans but Allam told Sky: “No one on earth is allowed to question my business decisions – I won’t allow it. I’ll give you my CV to give you comfort and show you what I have achieved.
“I’m here to save the club and manage the club for the benefit of the community – it will never, ever be the other way around, take it from me.
“But the community can say ‘go away’, and I will go within 24 hours.”
Allam, a 74-year-old Egyptian-born businessman, bought Hull in December 2010 but insists he will have no hesitation in selling up if the FA turn down the name change request.
“It’s a free country. No two ways about it. Have I ever said something and went back on it? No.”
Although there are fears that he might stop bankrolling the club, City Till I Die, the fans’ group opposing the change, say the club’s name is sacrosanct.
In a statement the group said it “remains confident that the FA will make the right decision, and protect the heritage and traditions of Hull City AFC, and those of other clubs whose identities may come under threat.”
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