The owners of EPL side Hull City "remain committed to changing the name of the club to Hull Tigers despite stiff opposition" from fan groups, and have reiterated that their threat "to walk away from the club if their plans are blocked," according to the PA. In an open letter published in the Hull Daily Mail, Hull City VP Ehab Allam said the Premier League club needed to become financially self-sustainable as his family had "nothing left to give" in terms of future financial investment. The Allams have already "changed the company name to Hull City Tigers but they need the permission of the FA Council to change the club's playing name." A formal application was submitted to the FA in December, but the high-profile "City Till We Die" supporters' group is "vehemently opposing the plans, and it is far from certain the governing body will sign off on the proposal." Ehab Allam's open letter "strikes a far more conciliatory tone than some of the past pronouncement of his father." The letter reads, "We need something that makes us stand out from the pool of teams we find ourselves in when it comes to attracting potential international sponsors, who are simply hoping to use the Premier League, and its global audience, to advertise. We feel the Hull Tigers brand would give us an edge in any negotiations" (PA, 3/5).
