Hull City criticise council for failing to put on Lokeren fans fest Hull City have launched a scathing attack on the council for failing to provide any entertainment or official welcome to fans from Lokeren ahead of their Europa Cup league play-off game at the KC Stadium tonight. Club vice-chairman Ehab Allam said it was "a shame" nothing had been staged by the council and questioned why a "small proportion" of the huge rates the club pays had not been invested in a fansâ festival for the expected 1,400 visitors pouring into Hull. He said: "Do we really need to wait until 2017 to show that we are a City of Culture?" The city authorities have been widely criticised by fans and the public for failing to take advantage of influx of visitors for the game. In Belgium, hundreds of Hull City fans received a warm welcome from locals and the authorities, who staged a variety of organised events. And despite a flash-point after the match involving a small group of known Lokeren troublemakers, City fans have spoken positively about the warm reception they received in Belgium, as well as on their previous European trip to watch the Tigers take on Trencin in Zilina, Slovakia. It is understood Hull City had looked this week at potentially laying on a fans' festival in West Park, adjacent to the KC, ahead of the Lokeren game, but faced applying for city council licence which would have taken 30 days to process. In a statement club vice-chairman Ehab Allam said: "Our fans received a great welcome in both Zilina and Lokeren and I am sure that will leave a lasting memory in the hearts and minds of all those who travelled. "The friendliness of the locals and hospitality extended to us is something their respective councils can be very proud of. "The success of the football club is far reaching; the Tigers being in the Premier League showcases the region on a global stage and brings a large increase in tourism, helps increase spend in the city on matchdays, helps with the level of intake at the university and no doubt helped contribute to bringing the City of Culture 2017 title to Hull, all of which generates vast sums of money for the local council. "The communityâs willingness to return the welcome to Lokeren fans is commendable. It is a shame a small proportion of the £1.7m paid out in business rates by the club since we took ownership has not been allocated to putting on a decent welcome to the visiting supporters. "Do we really need to wait until 2017 to show that we are a City of Culture?" http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...-22843427-detail/story.html?002#ixzz3BhBTAgN0
He's right in a lot that he says, but it's a bit rich since City have done next to **** all either. Opportunistic dig driving the wedge further when what we really need is for them to talk sensibly.
Decent little jab, but I highly doubt City themselves would have put anything on even if there was no waiting period. Seems like they love the fact nothing is being put on so they can drive up a bit of heat on the council.
Thought the club would of put up a few beer tents around the kc with their been no alcohol on sale inside. All extra cash
dammed if you say something, dammed if you don't! That said the bit about the club wanting to do something in the part adjacent to The KC but couldn't due to a 30 day lead in for a license is a load of bo**ocks!!! How long have we known we are in the Europa League???Over 3 months. Show some initiative and apply in principle subject to who we are selected to play against? Only unknown factor really is the dates for home and away potential ties. Same applies to the council also!!
The club are on slightly dodgy ground, considering that they refused a civic reception when we got promoted(doing that bollocks at the KC instead) and then planned a bus ride round East Yorkshire if we won the FA Cup. Frankly, both sides are as bad as each other.
I am certainly no defender of the Allams. However, they have no responsibility to host the Lokeren fans other than in the proximity of the ground. Allam is not responsible for marketing and tourism in Hull - The Council are! Do not forget Hull City's profile (due to about £100m of the Allams money) is a massive marketing tool for the Council. Its up to them to use it! There is no doubting mind that this is a dig by Ehab that puts a further wedge between the parties, which is of no benefit to anyone!
Puzzled about which part of that article actually amounted to a scathing attack. Agree it was a bit of a pop. On Radio Humberside earlier to day news reader described "clashes between Lokeren and City fans". Not that a small group of belgian trouble makers threw missiles at a kettled group of fans. Perhaps local media should review the sensationalising (if such a word exists) language that they use, it is potentially damaging to all the organisations involved.
Would the Lokeren fans really want to be hanging around a few cheap tents in what's left of west park? They all seem more than happy making their own way around the city centre. What do other city councils do for European games? Sure, we can all agree Geraghty is a cluless ****, but the whole thing is being blown out of proportion imo.
It seems like the club could have put something on for almost no cost. My hockey team used to get a couple big roads near the stadium shut down and then restaurants and bars would put up stalls. The team hired performers and things like that and turned it into a festival of sorts. Wouldnt cost very much to do something like that.
maybe the Mayor can get her war paint on and greet the fans off her own back (is it still the same old bag that missed the cup final ?) ! or can't she do anything without the permission of the council. event outside the stadium are the responsibility of the council . theres not a lot the club can do without the councils say so , and he is bloody right , City of Culture !!!! YOU'RE 'AVIN A LAFF !!!! Our council is controlled by a bunch of scurvy filled tyrannosaurus rex , that gorge on plump duck while the city stagnates . Bring back the ducking stool !!!
I think my views on the Allams are well known...however, he's bang on the money with this. Well said Wolfreton old boy.
the club cannot close a road !!! the point is this event is to showcase a CITY not just a football club . Belgium is about as near to a foreign country as you can get from Hull , especially when considering ferry links . Thousands of Ferry users get off in Hull , get onto the A63 and hot foot it out of our city without blinking Today is the one chance the City could expand on the idea that Hull is a cultured city waiting to be discovered . meh !
At the end of the day, it is a football event, and while it does promote the city, I think it was the clubs responsibility to make the initial advances - which we know they probably would never do under the Allams The other thing to consider is less than 10% of Hull watch/support City, and I can imagine the council getting flak from them if they did spend the money - even with the potential of future tourism.
