Hull City have formally lodged their appeal with the English Football League against the punishment of a three-window transfer fee restriction. Having compiled their evidence, lawyers have officially submitted the appeal to the EFL, with sources indicating the club’s belief their appeal will be successful has grown even stronger in recent days having seen the evidence laid out.
While City have now been placed in and come out of two transfer embargos in the last week, the club remain under a restriction which prevents them from paying a transfer fee for any player. That rule applies whether making a permanent signing or for a loan signing needing a fee as many now do, with the punishment handed out because of a failure to pay outstanding money for the Louie Barry loan agreement.
The remaining money, thought to be around £600,000 of the £1m agreement, was paid to Aston Villa last week in order to lift a first transfer embargo. A debt has also been settled with Manchester City for Finn Burns’ loan move last season, with monies owed for that seeing a second transfer embargo very briefly being placed against the club – so brief it had no time to be officially announced.
Now, sources have told Hull Live that there are no further outstanding payments that have been missed or are owed that won’t be paid this month, with the club adamant there is no reason why they should have another embargo placed against them. City owner Acun Ilicali has come out and made public in a letter to supporters that he will personally underwrite money owed to a number of suppliers who have not been paid.
He said: “With regards to payments to suppliers, unfortunately, the club experienced a cash flow issue when it didn’t receive a £1.5m payment for a player which was intended to clear invoices from suppliers. I will cover this shortfall until we receive the funds we are owed and our team are in communication with all suppliers to rectify any outstanding issues as soon as possible.”
With a promise to suppliers to settle debts, the club are confident they can stay out of the press in the coming weeks regarding missed payments, however despite talk of matters being addressed to solve outstanding issues, concern will remain about the level of debt, despite the owner’s protestations that he will cover it all and there are no issues.