Hull City issue statement over name change bid | Calendar

The owners of Hull City have lost their bid to change the club’s name to Hull Tigers, it is being reported.

The FA Council voted against the proposal in a meeting at its St George’s Park headquarters near Burton on Saturday and the decision could have far-reaching consequences.

FA chairman Greg Dyke told Sky Sports News headquarters: “Overwhelmingly the council has supported the recommendation that will not allow Hull City to change their name”.

The decision was supported by 69.9% of the council, an increase on the 63.5% who rejected Hull’s application 15 months ago.

The Humberside club’s owner Assem Allam has wanted to change the name for some time for what he considers to be improved worldwide corporate and marketing opportunities.

The decision – which follows the governing body rejecting a previous request in 2014 only for Hull to successfully have that verdict quashed – is likely to shape the club’s future for years to come.

Allam has previously said he will walk away from Hull if his plan was rejected, as well as claiming that he has turned down offers for the club. If passed, the FSF will encourage the FA to tighten its rules on heritage issues: “so that a football club’s playing name, badge, colours and so forth can not be changed without proper consultation with that club’s supporters, and that a club’s media should use only those approved elements in communications and publicity”.

He performed the role with aplomb, never compromising his popularity with the fanbase but always underlining his respect for Allam.

Hull insisted the name change idea had been backed by the majority of the club’s supporters in a ballot of season-card holders back in 2014.

A statement on Hull’s official website read: “The club acknowledges the FA Council’s decision with regards to our name change application”. That’s what they have decided.

“I don’t think Hull can appeal. They can work on a new application, that could perhaps have better research, but as of now their application has been rejected”.