We all know it was going to happen, but it is official now. Disgusting! Hull City have confirmed they have applied to the FA to change their name to Hull Tigers from next season. The club's owner, Assem Allam, is pushing ahead with the application despite opposition from fans groups, who want to keep the name the club has had since it was founded in 1904. Allam believes the name change will make the club easier to market, particularly abroad. He has labelled the name 'City' as "lousy" and "common." He said the club made losses of £28m last season when it was promoted to the Premier League. He previously told the Guardian: "I know it will make a difference; shorter names have a quicker impact, it is textbook marketing. "Hull is relevant. City is not relevant. Tigers: are you telling me you would drop the symbol of power? "I cannot keep throwing money into it. There must be a limit. Our target is for the club to be self-financed, relying on its own resources. "Manchester United are selling shirts in the Far East, selling commercial activities all over the world. We need the club to be known globally, and shortening the name will make the club known globally." Hull fans formed a group called 'City Till We Die' and Allam stirred up further controversy by saying the fans 'can die as soon as they want'. Allam told the Independent: "They can die as soon as they want, as long as they leave the club for the majority who just want to watch good football." Allam said: "How can they call themselves fans, these hooligans, this militant minority, when they disturb and distract the players while taking away the rights of others to watch the football, and of companies who have paid good money for advertising?" At the 19 minute and four-second mark of each recent game, Hull supporters have chanted against the Allam regime. And 'City Till We Die' hit back at Allam's remarks. "Thankfully, hooliganism at football in this country is now exceedingly rare," the group said in a statement. "The intemperate suggestion that singing "City Till I Die" or holding a banner with Hull City's name on it constitutes disorder is ill-informed, unhelpful and will be considered by many to be offensive. "We reiterate our advice to all City fans to continue their fine support for our fantastic team while positively expressing a preference for our current name." Allam, who moved to Hull in 1968, announced earlier this year that the company name had changed from Hull City AFC to Hull City Tigers. Allam - who has pumped millions of his own money into the club - has threatened to walk away if his plans are not accepted. "I'm a simple man," added Allam. "Do they want me to stay? If it's, 'No thank you', fine, in 24 hours the club is for sale, I do not put in one more pound and hopefully things happen quickly. http://www1.skysports.com/football/...hull-city-apply-to-change-name-to-hull-tigers
"Manchester United are selling shirts in the Far East, selling commercial activities all over the world. We need the club to be known globally, and shortening the name will make the club known globally." And they've achieved that without changing their name to Manchester Red Devils. Surely the word "United" is irrelevant?
Allam obviously thinks that because he's put a lot of his money into Hull, it has now become his club, to do with as he wants. He clearly has no concept of community, let alone a football club's place in the hearts and minds of that community. He's an egotistical ****, in other words. Twas ever thus with football chairmen.
City is a common name though. You can't argue with that. And they've kept the part of the name that isn't common; Hull. Its geographically specific to that particular area. In fact he's just modernizing tradition- keeping the important part of the name that's been there since 1904. To me Tigers is a bit of a crap name, but they're known as tigers so can't see why its causing such a fuss.
So is United; I don't see Manchester United rushing to change because it's common. And to bring it home, would you be happy for us officially to be called Southampton Saints? Vin
I think their full official name is still Hull City A.F.C isn't it? edit: never mind, it seems the name has been registered but the Premier League hasn't agreed to call them that this season.
Similar situation to Cardiff City, although the name is about the only thing they did keep. All changes apparently for marketing. I can see the supporter's point, i wouldn't like it if our name was changed to Southampton Saints, or even just Saints.
I still have the programme from Scotland v England in 1974 (Scotland won 2-0 !) and the team sheet has one Mick Channon who played for Southampton Town appartently.
I don't like American style names personally, but he does have a point that he has put money into the club. Hull fans may feel that a change of name is unnecessary for success, but their sugar daddy does. I posed the question a couple of weeks back...would we accept being changed to Southampton Saints...the general consensus was not fussed.
Yeah I wouldn't be happy about that either. Fans of other clubs wouldn't care though, and frankly that's how I feel about Hull. It's their issue, I don't really care what they're called (within reason!)
If they called themselves Hull Saints we'd all be marching up there with pitchforks (p.s. where is Hull?)
Changing the name is one thing, but could you imagine some foreign owner or director deciding to change the teams classic red and white striped shirt to a plain red one?People not looking at the big picture would say he has no respect for the club or fans
