The FA membership committee have advised against Hull
City changing their name to Hull Tigers, putting the proposal in serious doubt.
Hull's owners, the Allam family, formally applied to
alter the moniker in December after club chairman Assem Allam branded the City
suffix "lousy" and "common".
The move has been met with derision from sections of the
club's fans - who set up a campaign group 'City Till We Die' to rally against
the change - though Allam has claimed the switch would help Hull become
financially self-sufficient.
While tensions have simmered in the stands, Steve Bruce's
side have enjoyed better fortunes on the pitch and currently sit five points
clear of the Premier League relegation zone with nine games to play this
season.
Egyptian-born Allam, who made his fortune in marine
generators after moving to Hull in the 1960s, has previously said he will
happily sell the club if his proposal is rejected.
And that vow looks likely to be tested with the
membership committee recommending that the FA council throw out any attempted
change when they rule on the matter on April 9 - three days before Hull compete
in their first FA Cup semi-final in 84 years against Sheffield United at
Wembley.
An FA statement read: "Hull City are able to make a
further submission to The FA Council in view of the written reasons, which they
have received, before the 9 April meeting.
"A final decision will be made at that
meeting."
Hull confirmed last week that they will ballot season
ticket holders on their opinions over the name change.
The results could form a basis of the club's attempts to
convince the FA council to go against their membership committee's
recommendation.
Culled from Soccerway
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