Top takeaways from Acun’s Hull City Q&A
THE TIGERS OWNER HOSTED AN EXCLUSIVE FANS ONLY EVENT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT
HULL City owner Acun Ilicali flew into the MKM Stadium on Wednesday night to host a special fans event where he outlined his reasons for sacking Liam Rosenior, discussed his potential replacement and took questions.
As is often the case with these unscripted events, there’s an element of surprise, the sublime and the ridiculous and the latest near-two-hour event was no different with fire alarms, brutal honesty bordering on the owner, perhaps, being too honest at times and one or two rather bizarre questions from members of the audience thrown in for good measure.
Having come under heavy criticism from some supporters for the decision last Tuesday to move Rosenior on after 18 months in charge, Ilicali felt it necessary to address those members in attendance inside the Kingston Suite.
Here’s the main takeaways from a night those present may not forget in a hurry ...
Acun’s burner account
We’ll start with a mildly humourous one. The owner admitted he had a fake account on Twitter to keep tabs on what fans of the club are saying, as well as journalists covering the Tigers, both positive and negative to help him keep a handle on the feeling within the City community.
Ilicali revealed it wouldn’t be possible through his main social media accounts, so instead, operated what’s known as burner accounts to stay up-to-date.
Rosenior’s exit
with Rosenior’s very first interview. Ilicali thanked the 39-year-old for moving City away from relegation danger and into the top half of the table but felt he underachieved given the players at his disposal, and the style of play was too slow.
Ilicali referenced wanting to be entertained at the MKM Stadium but picked out Ryan Allsop, suggesting the goalkeeper needed a rest and required taking out of the firing line at points in the season, something the manager didn’t agree with and caused significant friction for a period of time.
The pair also fell out over January signing Ivor Pandur, with Rosenior suggesting he didn’t feel the Croatian youngster was good enough to play in the Championship, while there were disagreements over the amount of time striker Noah Ohio had on the pitch with Ilicali at pains to make it clear he was only trying to advise his manager and go no further. Essentially, as the manager, Rosenior would live and die by his decisions and his decisions alone, particularly
if he ignored advice.
Interestingly, Ilicali in crediting Rosenior for always talking with logic, hasn’t ruled out working with him again in the future, saying “we could meet again maybe”.
The fire alarm
A surreal evening took another twist after half-an-hour when the stadium’s fire alert system announced there was a need to evacuate, so host Alex Burgess duly asked everyone to make for the fire exits, and off they went out into the evening air for 10 minutes or so. According to the chairman, in Turkey, you’d just wait until the fire alarm stopped and crack on as normal.
Recruitment update
Ilicali spoke about his brain team of people around him who help and advise on all club matters, including recruitment. On the subject of recruitment since he bought City two-and-a-half years ago, he ranks it as 7.5 out of 10, adding that he wouldn’t give seven but could also give eight for a team he feels is very strong.
The future of Dogukan Sinik was raised once more, as Hull Live reported earlier this month, he will return to pre-season training, and Ilicali questioned why he wasn’t utilised, saying his confidence and value reduced.
Loan striker Liam Delap remains a target this summer but Ilicali admitted it’s 50/50 that he’ll come back, given there is Premier League interest. A spectator in the crowd likened Harry Vaughan to George Best and asked why he was loaned to Bristol Rovers, but the owner backed Rosenior’s judgement in needing to send the youngster out to get regular football, while also explaining that Billy Sharp provided a huge amount in the dressing room, even if it didn’t work out in terms of goals.
Ilicali also reiterated the club have no desire to sell Jacob Greaves or Jaden Philogene, but will not keep any players who don’t want to be at the MKM Stadium, should they wish to move on.
Another key thing on recruitment surrounded the club’s transfer policy, and how his team of scouts will identify players and then put it to their head coach for final approval, and if he gives it, then they will endeavour to finish the deal.
Walter latest
Tim Walter is the leading candidate to take over and Ilicali says bringing in any new manager is a trial, reiterating that interest in the job is reason to be proud and adding that he’s spoken to 10 to 12 football experts in Germany and all of them said so many positive things about the 48-year-old, and that his football mentality was what he’s been dreaming of.
He went on to say that at the moment, everything looks good and he’s optimistic about confirming the appointment in the next week, giving it a 95 per cent chance of being completed, but admitting Walter does have interest from other clubs.
One name raised by many fans in recent days has been Pedro Martins, who was at the MKM Stadium and met Ilicali and this particular journalist before a Tigers game against Luton Town, having shaken hands on taking over only for “somebody confused his mind and he went to Arabia, money was the reason”.