Football Season Guide

Hull City begin yet another season with the club in crisis mode. Turkish owner Acun Ilicali took over from despised previous owner Assem Allam in January 2022 and now appears to be following in his footsteps. The Tigers endured a tough 2024/25 season which saw them scrape to safety by the tightest of margins, finishing in 21st place in the Championship, only above relegated Luton Town on goal difference. It wasn’t good enough for Ilicali, who subsequently sacked head coach Ruben Selles, who had been in charge for less than six months. The trigger-happy Turk gave Tim Walter just 17 games before dismissing him, having sacked Liam Rosenior after missing out on a play-off place in 2023/24. Sergej Jekirović becomes the latest fall guy having previously managed clubs in Turkey, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia. If things weren’t bad enough on the pitch, off it they are even worse. The club have been placed under a three-window transfer fee restriction by the EFL after failing to make loan payments to Manchester City for defender Finley Burns and Aston Villa for striker Louie Barry. Ilicali has claimed they were as a result of a misunderstanding and all outstanding payments have been made. The club has appealed against the embargo. It has complicated their summer transfer activity with uncertainly over the availability of midfielders Gustavo Puerta and Reda Laalaoui, who were both signed before the embargo. Much-needed funds have been brought in by the sales of defenders Alfie Jones and Sean McLoughlin and striker João Pedro. Midfielders Abdülkadir Ömür, Abu Kamara and Steven Alzate are all expected to follow them out of the door. It leaves Jekirović trying to sort out this mess. He’ll start the new season without injured Captain Lewie Coyle and will be relying on squad players who weren’t considered good enough a year ago. It’s hardly a recipe for success.