EPL: Hull must stay up this season before aiming bigger — Club owner

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Hull City owner Acun Ilıcalı says his immediate priority is to keep the club in the Premier League this season before seeking to establish it as a sustainable top-flight brand.

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Ilıcalı, speaking to Sky Sports News in a video shared on Saturday, said his ambition for Hull had progressed gradually since he took over the club, beginning with a top-10 finish before the side eventually secured promotion to the Premier League.

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“Yeah, first of all, step by step. I said to our fans when I came to the club, I said I want to go step by step. First, top 10 was my target.

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“Actually, we missed three points in the play-offs in my second year. So my target was top 10 and after that play-off push, then we went to play-offs, then Premier League.

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“Now, the only thing I’m trying to do with the team is to stay in the Premier League for this year,” Ilıcalı said.

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Ilıcalı said securing top-flight survival would then allow him to pursue a longer-term model aimed at establishing Hull as a recognised Premier League club.

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“If we can stay in the Premier League this year, hopefully, then I will want to make a brand,” he said.

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The Turkish businessman pointed to Brentford and Brighton as examples of clubs whose approaches to football he admires.

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“There are two, three teams that I really like their approach to football. Brentford, their sporting director is fantastic, by the way.

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“Apart from that, Brighton. These teams, I think, managed to be a brand in the Premier League for a long time,” he said.

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Hull returned to the Premier League this season after securing promotion from the Championship, and have made an unbeaten start to their top-flight campaign.

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PUNCH Online reports that before Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the newly promoted side had taken seven points from their opening three matches, including a 2-0 win over Manchester United and an away victory against Championship winners Coventry City.

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The draw with Chelsea took Hull’s tally to eight points from four matches after having played a 0-0 draw in matchweek three against Villa.

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