Ilicali’s ‘disappointment and sadness’ in open letter to fans
TIGERS’ OWNER LAMENTS LACK OF EFL FUNDING TALKS PROGRESS
Acun Ilicali has expressed his “disappointment and sadness” over the lack of progress in the Premier League’s talks with the EFL over a new funding deal. Top-flight clubs held a meeting on Monday and it was hoped a tangible proposal would be put forward to the EFL but no agreement was reached.
It has prompted Hull City owner Ilicali, who bought the Tigers from the Allam family in January 2022, to voice his concern over the future of English football in a passionate open letter on the club’s website. He has urged the Premier League to “deliver on its commitment to deliver a new funding offer”.
Here is Ilicali’s letter in full:
To football fans everywhere.
As the proud Chairman of Hull City, it may seem strange that I am addressing this letter to fans of all clubs, but it is my strong belief that, at what could prove to be a watershed moment for our game, strength comes in unity.
Since arriving in the English game just over two years ago I have witnessed that unity and felt a real appetite for change amongst, not only the majority of clubs, but also politicians and fans alike.
So, it is with real disappointment and sadness that we have been forced to address the lack of progress in the Premier League’s discussions with the EFL over a new
funding offer. We were fortunate enough to take on a football club that was very prudently run in financial terms, but increasingly, particularly in the Championship, it is almost impossible to consistently balance the books and remain competitive on the pitch.
With that in mind, we fully support the vision for revised financial redistribution combined with enhanced cost controls.
Our approach over the last two years has been a dual focus on investment into our squad and delivering an affordable product for our fans.
We have seen this bear fruit in terms of our current league position and an increase in average attendance of nearly 100 per cent.
This, however, is not a sustainable model under current financial parameters and without change, will see the necessity for us to sell players and potentially increase prices for our fans.
Although I am now in a privileged position to own a football club, before all else I am a football fan and I fell in love with the English game many years ago.
The competitiveness and subsequent drama in our game is unlike any other and it is of paramount importance that we protect that. I firmly believe that the Premier League has an obligation to be the leader in protecting that competitiveness and I would urge it to deliver on its commitment to deliver a new funding offer.
Of course, I understand the need for clubs to protect their best interests, but the strength of any pyramid is in its foundations.
You only have to look at the recently announced England squad to understand the importance of the EFL to the very pinnacle of our sport.
This is why we are also in full support of the proposed introduction of an independent regulator with sufficient autonomy and powers to make decisions for the benefit and long-term sustainability of the footballing pyramid.
At Hull City we have a motto of ‘One Family, One Dream,’ right now I think the whole of the English game should have a shared dream – a fair and equitable sport for all, that preserves the competitiveness and excitement it has always had.
Yours in football,
Acun Ilicali
Football fan and Chairman of Hull City