This season bucked the recent trend of promoted sides heading straight back down
Hull City are Premier League once more(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
Hull City have been shown a blueprint of how to stay in the Premier League can con do just that if they get their recruitment right, according to ex-Tiger Ray Parlour. The former Arsenal and England man enjoyed a short spell at City in 2007 the year before the Tigers won promotion to the Premier League for the first time, after answering an SOS call from then manager Phil Brown to add some more experience to his group.
Parlour looks back on his time at the Tigers as short and sweet with just 15 games played, and still holds an affection for the club. No doubt delighted to see his old side back in the Premier League, Parlour has been speaking about the size of the challenge ahead for newly promoted sides and in particular for Sergej Jakirovic’s men.
This season may have bucked the recent trend of promoted sides heading straight back down with Leeds United and Sunderland staying up, the latter even qualifying for Europe, but next season the Tigers, Ipswich Town and Coventry City will all start the campaign as overwhelming favourites to return straight back to the Championship.
“It’s always difficult. You saw last season all three went down,” explained Parlour. “I’m really pleased that this season Sunderland have stayed up and Leeds have had a good season. But it’s always difficult—it’s all about investment and what sort of gamble you want to take as a club when you come up.
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“Sometimes the players aren’t quite good enough for the Premier League, so you’ve got to make big decisions on whether to give them an opportunity or recruit.
“You usually see at least one go down, and all Hull have to do is say, “We aren’t going to be that one.’ With Ipswich coming up and Coventry, it’ll be interesting to see how they all do. You always want to see clubs stay up in that first season because it gives everyone in the Championship hope.
“Last season was a bit of a mockery when all three promoted sides went down, but this season Sunderland and Leeds have proved you can do it with the right recruitment and desire. Hull will be similar. I only had 15 games with Hull, but I enjoyed it. It’s a good little club.”
Ray Parlour was speaking to 10bet.
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