Steve Bruce admits threat of rebranding makes Hull City burn bright Hull manager to talk to owner over name change to Tigers Without Assem Allam 'there would be no club', Bruce says Steve Bruce has admitted he wants to speak to Assem Allam over the Hull City owner's controversial and divisive attempt to rebrand the club "Hull Tigers". Hull's deserved victory over Liverpool, the first against the Merseyside club in their 109-year history, came amid an acrimonious backdrop as supporters continued their protests against Allam's rebranding exercise. Bruce, the Hull manager, had appealed for unity in his programme notes but that was undermined by the owner's criticism of the "City Till We Die" campaign group in a Sunday newspaper. "They can die as soon as they want," said the Egyptian-born businessman, "as long as they leave the club for the majority who just want to watch good football." Allam's inflammatory comments guaranteed a bristling atmosphere at the KC Stadium. "We're Hull City, we'll die when we want" was a fine riposte from the home support. Bruce said: "The one thing it did was create a fantastic atmosphere, which I was delighted about but in all seriousness, the chairman has put something like £70m in. Without him, there wouldn't be a club or a Hull City. It would be down the tubes, in my opinion. There are not many people out there who would have put £70m into Hull. "However, I have got to have a conversation with him because I don't think he quite understands what it means in terms of history and tradition. "All he thinks about going forward and he thinks the brand would be better. That is his opinion but there are thousands who don't agree and there is nobody more of a traditionalist than I am. "What we can't let it do is fester because it creates, at times, when things aren't going so well, an atmosphere that none of us want. "We should be enjoying the Premier League and enjoying beating Liverpool, rather than talking about a badge and a name change which for me becomes irrelevant when you win games like today. "It took the club a long time to get stability. Let's be fair, they sacked a local hero here in Nick Barmby, so they made a big decision to start with. "I don't think they really want brownie points but I don't think they quite understand what it [Hull City] means to a lot of people. "If we are Hull City Tigers or we are Hull City, whatever we are, we have got to stay together going forward because we need all the help we can get. We are a newly promoted team. We have only been three years in the Premier League in our history so we are up against it." Bruce added: "But certainly I will have a conversation with him and see what we can do." http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/01/hull-city-steve-bruce-tigers-liverpool
I don't think it'll get through to him. But I like the gesture from Brucey. I suggest he just talk about transfers in January. I think the FA will make the final decision. It all has to go through them eventually. Hopefully, the stupid comments ruins any credibility he has with them.
I appreciate what Bruce is trying to do but its a dangerous game, Allam rules with his ego and to have a manager publicly disagree with him on this issue isn't going to go down well. I get the sense Allam has a lot of respect for Bruce which will hopefully make him listen to what he has to say.
I recall Burnsey saying a while back that the only person Mr. Allam would listen to about anything to do with football, is Steve Bruce. The club needs 100% support and there will always be a percentage, however large or small, that will never accept anything other than Hull City.
If anyone can change his mind then SB is probably the only one, if he can't do it then there is no chance he will change his mind. As I have said before lobbying the FA is the best way to get this name change idea stopped, as if enough of us bombard them with E mails etc, they are unlikely to ratify it.
Totally agree with John Aberdeen now ER. If Steve Bruce can't persuade mr Allam nobody can. Hope it can be solved soon as both sides are bringing negative press to the club. We should be celebrating our success and the huge part mr Allam and the fans have played.....these are the good times for our club.
Thankfully Steve Bruce is talking more sense that Dr Allam and the CTWD clan. It did make for a cracking atmosphere yesterday. It wont effect the players at all playing the way they did. imo.
Agreed. It is getting very boring now. But it does create atmosphere. Good and bad. Lol. True. The FA will have to agree to the name change for City to be removed regardless of what Allam calls the club. Agreed John but Steve Bruce wont do anything to jeopardize what he wants to do in January. But as has been posted elsewhere, Steve Bruce is the only person at the club that Dr Allam listens to on football issues.
Brucey back-pedals/tries to defuse the situation: http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/footbal...fends-hull-owner-over-fan-dispute_121671.html ....and the Fail is cottoning on: http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...e-bridge-gap/story-20252266-detail/story.html
I don't understand why you are characterising Bruce's comments there as back pedalling, Stan. Just being diplomatic I would have thought.
Just seen a tweet from the journo who did the interview with Allam. Said nothing was taken out of context or changed and he still has the recording.
Last week the fans were accused of putting the players off , now it's all creating a great atmosphere
