2020 has been a rough year for pretty much everyone, but The Tigers seem to be having a particularly big struggle. They resumed training after the COVID-19 enforced break and seemed to be in good spirits when matches in the EFL kicked off again. Unfortunately, the team appeared to be lacking strong leadership.
This has led to the disappointing relegation to League One for next season. Management says it is now looking to get the squad on solid ground by replacing some of the big names that have left. Grant McCann has placed a strong emphasis on recruitment, but not just on getting people in – rather on getting the right people in.
Confirmed Exits
Hull City has already been hit hard with the departure of Eric Lichaj in June, leaving a gap at right-back. More recent exits include Jon Toral, Kevin Stewart, Herbie Kane, Jackson Irvine, Will Mannion and Robbie McKenzie. This is a big loss to accommodate all at once, and the shortened summer break could mean the team feels it even more.
Cash Flow Concerns
The Tigers have never been a particularly flashy club when it comes to paying big amounts for players. However, it is believed that the club has the kind of budget that will put it at the top of their new League One opponents – even with the losses incurred this year.
The COVID-19 enforced break has hit the club fairly hard financially, along with the rest of the EFL and League One teams in the UK. Hull FC have reportedly lost around 5 million pounds from television revenue thanks to the break. On the plus side, the club doesn’t have any major players pulling large salaries at this point, and they have managed wage reductions through the crisis.
Transfers Have Already Begun
The summer transfer window is officially open, and management is taking no prisoners – or so it would seem. They started off with officially taking on Mallik Wilks, who had been on loan to the team from Barnsley Football Club since the beginning of the year. The amount paid for the transfer has not been disclosed to the public.
Opening Positions For Young Guns
With so many senior players leaving Hull City recently, there have been some great opportunities for the youngsters coming out of the academy this season. It is likely that Keane Lewis-Potter and Dan Batty will maintain their spots on the first team next season. Jarrod Bowen and Robbie McKenzie have both been recalled from their loans to join the squad now, too. Much like Canadian gambling, everyone is getting a chance to win.
Other graduates that are likely to make their first appearances for the first team in the coming months are Max Sheaf, Brandon Fleming and Jacob Greaves. These three all made it to the bench in the season that’s just finished but didn’t hit the field. It’s been a bumper year for the academy and things are only looking up for the graduates. This is especially true since they could all end up on field in the pre-season as management finalizes transfers.