Covering Hull City rarely gives you a chance to draw breath, and it’s been no different since the season finished at a club that certainly doesn’t like to sleep. The notion that things slow down a tad after the season finishes certainly is not something that applies to the Tigers. If ever that point was true came back on Bank Holiday Monday, just hours after the season finished with Ruben Selles’ side sealing Championship safety.
While the rest of the EFL was drawing breath, City‘s skipper was in the news having been pictured topless in a street following an incident, and the head coach was on the cusp of losing his job, which he eventually did. Just one normal, quiet day is all we ask for. Most planned days off end up involving work of some sort, whether it is filing stories or taking phone calls from all manner of different sources, and this one followed a similar pattern, albeit with a very different outcome. Not a complaint in the slightest, merely the going of the territory in a profession that demands almost 24/7, 365 availability.
Barely had the clock struck 9am on Wednesday, and the plans that had been put in place for a mundane day off were thrown into chaos. Hair cut, shopping, sort out washing and get a few bits done, especially with a rare family break on the horizon next week, were all placed on the back burner.
One phone call from the owner of the football club and suddenly, a seat on the next train to London was booked, and we were off to the capital for a sit-down chat with Acun Ilicali.
The Tigers owner, it’s fair to say, operates on his own timezone. ‘Acun time’ is what it’s known as, and given the Turkish businessman is constantly flying between England, Turkey, the USA and Dominican Republic – for starters, it’s perhaps not a surprise.
What initially started out as an early evening interview at a plush Mayfair hotel turned into dinner with Ilicali, his entourage and other senior figures at the football club in a private room at a nearby restaurant. Clearly, Ilicali is no stranger to this particular establishment, given the welcome he and his guests received on arrival and the fact that a Coke Zero was ready for him when he sat down.
After a brief catch-up on Survivor, one of his many TV shows, the iPad was set up for the eight or so guests around the long banquet-style table to keep in touch with events in Bilbao and Spurs’ gritty 1-0 win over hapless Manchester United to secure the Europa League title. There may have been discussions about the similarities between Charlie Hughes and Harry Maguire, with a belief that City’s new hero could eclipse the current United man. That header at Hillsborough back in April still makes the hairs rise.
Ilicali was in town to host meetings and interviews with prospective new managers having flown in from Istanbul earlier in the day. His stay was brief, flying back out to Antalya early the following morning. It’s a tiring existence for the television personality who turns 56 next Thursday, but it’s one he’s used to and while the people around him try to grab five minutes kip here and there, it’s part and parcel of his jet-setting lifestyle.
A host of meetings were held throughout the day. From early morning to late evening, Ilicali along with Martin Hodge and Mustapha Yokes, were embroiled in dialogue over what comes next. Sporting director Jared Dublin was in constant communication with the trio over the phone after being unable to make the London trip.
What followed was an intriguing evening as the conversation covered all matters Hull City and beyond. Here’s what I took away from the night that ended in the small hours.
Fan criticism has stung
The Tigers chief has come in for his fair share of criticism over the past 12 months, largely since the sacking of Liam Rosenior. The nature of his dismissal, followed by the appointment – and departure – of Tim Walter, muddled recruitment and a season that almost ended in the ultimate humiliation saw Ilicali’s City approval ratings at an all-time low.
Questions remain about the direction of the club moving forward but there’s no doubt the criticism has stung the City owner, but he remains defiant and determined that he will succeed at City. That passion we saw when he bought the club remains.
There remains much work to do to convince fans. Concerns remain about the club’s finances and one man’s ability to fund a Championship club haemorrhaging money, as per the latest accounts, and those will not go away. The jury remains out for many who are yet to be convinced by the direction of travel and decision-making process.
As always, actions speak louder than any words ever can and over the course of the next few weeks, City – as a club – must find themselves in a stronger position, on and off the pitch. I got a sense Ilicali is aware of all that and the responsibility of getting this right and bringing the fans a reason to cheer, not to worry.
Importance of next manager decision clear to all
It’s plainly obvious to anyone that the owner has to move quickly with his next appointment. To drag it out will damage the club’s recruitment plans. City already have players wanting to join the club, which is a hugely promising sign. However, there will be other players wanting to wait until they know who the manager will be, and whether their style will be suited.
That’s just one aspect of it. The other is the amount of change in the past few months. That level of churn both in the manager’s office and dressing room is not healthy and does not breed success. The people at the top know that and through the conversation at the meal it became apparent that there is a lot of due diligence going on behind the scenes in terms of finding the right candidate and it was referenced on more than one occasion about the importance of the next appointment.
You have to hope Ilicali’s next appointment is one that brings some semblance of calm and stability, but ultimately, results on the pitch will dictate that, otherwise we could find ourselves here again in six months’ time.
Hull City remains Acun’s priority
By his own admission, for a month last summer during the presidential elections at Fenerbahce, Ilicali’s focus was diverted away from the MKM Stadium. In truth, that should not really have been a major issue, after all, most club owners have people they can trust on the ground to make good, sensible decisions. Tan Kesler was charged with fronting up that process, but the summer proved to be a mess and he’s no longer at the club.
On that subject, for the first time, Ilicali referenced Kesler and questioned his recent interview, highlighting his lack of involvement in Liam Rosenior’s exit, suggesting the former vice-chairman’s memory had lapsed. Perhaps a subtle dig at his former sidekick’s recent PR charm offensive.
Talking about his emotions at Fratton Park, how he spoke to the players pre-match and knew they had the fire in their belly to get a result, and the celebrations afterwards, it was clear how much it meant.
A year on, Ilicali’s primary focus remains on City and turning the club from regulation battlers to one capable of competing in the top half of the table with a firm eye on challenging for the top six, with the right additions.
Martin Hodge is a strong voice
The former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper is vastly experienced. At 66, he’s been in the game for a long time, both as a player, coach, scout and recruitment chief.
He’s playing a huge role in advising Ilicali, and he’s not afraid to stand his ground. City’s new head of recruitment has stressed to Ilicali the importance of this appointment and the credentials needed for it to work.
Ilicali is a strong mind, but he needs strong characters who know English football to stand up to him, to challenge him and put their point across. Of course, the ultimate decision rests with the owner, however, having somebody with a bit of Northern honesty is not a bad thing.
Along with Jared Dublin and other members of the hierarchy, Hodge will be an important figure at the MKM Stadium in the coming months.
With Dublin, Hodge, coupled with the experience of secretary David Beeby, chief operating officer Joe Clutterbrook, and head of performance Andrew Balderston, City have a good, knowledgeable group of people that the owner must use.
For the first time, Ilicali says he has the people in place to drive the club forward. As always, actions are the most important, and fans will judge that based on results.
Final conclusions
The owner appeared reenergised by the current situation rather than fatigued by it all. He is not a man who lacks confidence in himself or his decisions, but this was an Ilicali who has learnt from the past year or so, or so his words would suggest.
There’s a fair amount of work to be done at City ahead of the new season. That can’t be denied. That said, they’re in a better place than they were 12 months ago after Liam’s sacking and prior to Walter’s arrival.
Their squad, for one, is not a pile of bones. Whoever comes in has something to work with, and with some good additions, especially in the top half of the pitch, they can be effective next season.
You have to hope lessons have been learned over the past 12 months. There will be plenty of people associated with the club who remain hugely sceptical, concerned even, given how things have played out.
Ultimately, Ilicali used his get-out-of-jail-free card at Fratton Park, and he must now grasp that second chance.