TIGERS GOT TALENT? OR MAYBE NOT

HULL CITY failed to produce an X-factor for ‘Turkey’s Simon Cowell’ – their prospective new owner.

TV tycoon and media personality, Acun Ilicali, wants everything sorted by the time the Tigers take on Everton in the FA Cup on Saturday.

But in the week when the EFL will be running the rule over Ilicali’s £30million takeover bid, he would have hoped for a better audition from the team for Hull’s 1,000-plus following at Blackpool.

Ironically, it was former Hull loanee Josh Bowler who earned the penalty decider, which was smashed home by Gary Madine for his fourth strike of the season.

Tigers’ boss Grant McCann claimed the penalty decision was a ‘50-50 issue’ but admitted his side could only blame themselves for not taking their chances.

Those opportunities included two added-time efforts by subs Tyler Smith and Randell Williams, which were stopped at point-blank range by Blackpool’s stand-in keeper Dan Grimshaw, earning high praise from Neil Critchley.

The Seasiders’ gaffer said: “We didn’t see the game out any better than our experience midweek, when we lost in the last minute to Middlesbrough.

“This time, we relied on our keeper to win us the game with two moments of brilliance, but it shouldn’t have come to that.”

McCann is hoping the takeover deal will release cash for urgent signings in the transfer window, with Hull under an embargo until an EFL loan is paid off.

Ilicali owns Turkey’s mostwatched TV station, which he bought eight years ago for more than £50m. They have been linked with Barnsley’s Herbie Kane, Peterborough striker Jack Marriott and Sheffield United midfielder Reagan Slater, a former loan player with Hull.

Blackpool have rejected a bid from Nottingham Forest for midfielder Bowler but may do a permanent deal for Owen Dale, on loan from Crewe.