The Tigers remain firmly in the thick of the race for promotion to the top flight
Hull City have been one of the Championship’s great entertainers this season (Image: Harriet Massey/Getty Images)
Former Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler believes his old club have the spirit to continue their fight for promotion with the Tigers nestled firmly in the promotion race.
City were fourth before their defeat to Stoke City on New Year’s Day, which saw them drop a place to fifth and be leapfrogged by Watford, who they should have played in their last league outing.
That game was called off less than 20 minutes before kick-off at the MKM Stadium, and owing to results elsewhere, City dropped out of the top six.
Despite that, however, the Tigers have enjoyed a terrific first half of the season despite their struggles of last year and the transfer restrictions placed on them by the EFL – making it into the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time under Acun Ilicali’s ownership, where they’ll come up against Liam Rosenior.
Kesler arrived as part of Acun Ilicali’s takeover in January 2022, but left the MKM Stadium under something of a cloud in October 2024 before taking up a similar role with Polish outfit Pogoń Szczecin. He has now backed the Tigers to continue their surge towards promotion to the Premier League.
“I’m very happy for Acun,” Kesler told talkSPORT. “He’s spent significant time on his financials and is at this point. With Liam (Rosenior), we were right there, and then after that, we had to reorganise, and he had to reorganise.
“As a team, I think they find the spirit. If they can manage the transfer ban and the current injuries, I do see them doing well and taking a shot at promotion. I support them, it’s my club.”
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