The FA is expected to tell the owners of EPL side Hull City that "they are not allowed to change the club's name to Hull Tigers," according to Paul Kelso of SKY SPORTS. The FA Membership Committee will recommend that the FA Council "reject an application" by Hull City Owner Assem Allam "to change the name," which has been used since the club was founded in 1904. Allam wants to change the name to Hull Tigers "to increase the club's commercial appeal to potential sponsors," and has described the word City as "common" and "lousy" (SKY SPORTS, 3/17). In a statement, the FA said the decision to block the name change was unanimous. The recommendation will be voted on in full at the April 9 FA Council (FA). An FA source said he would be "astonished" if the FA Council acted against the committee's advice (BBC, 3/17).
ALLAM TO SELL CLUB: In London, David Conn reported Allam reiterated that he would "walk away" from the club if the full FA Council follows the committee's recommendation. Allam clarified that he meant he "would put the club up for sale," not seek immediately to recover his £72M ($120M) loans and "cause the club financial difficulties." Allam: "How could you imagine I would change my mind? People who know me know that I do not go back on what I say." The FA's subcommittee is understood to have found that the Allams "had not justified the name change on commercial grounds or to have consulted adequately with supporters." Allam said he now intends to ballot Hull City's 17,900 season-ticket holders and hopes the FA Council "will sanction the name change." Allam: "We will announce a ballot this week, and we will challenge the decision. If the FA does not allow our plan, we will walk away, put it on the market to sell the club. We would not put it into liquidation; there is a lot of money at stake. I will get my money when I sell" (GUARDIAN, 3/17).
