Assem Allam welcomes Paul Duffen back into Hull City picture

“It is highly unlikely that all the financial goings on behind the scenes during our last PL adventure will be revealed...just as some of the US/UK conversations pre and during the Falklands conflict will not be recorded any where! Safe to say though that the Allams seemed to get some surprises from the way the mysterious Mr Bartlett had financed the club! Hence the hefty sum they needed to put in to restructure. A poster in China reported that the Tigers' promotion had received a lot of comment in the media there. I think that illustrates the "Duffen-effect". The interest shown in China and now in Egypt could generate a lot of cash in the future. Few businessmen are squeaky clean IMO, but Duffen knew how to get media interest!”

“Oh please not again! Let's hope that the Allams were just being polite by inviting Duffen into their directors box. Though we are never likely to ever hear the truth of who did what in the Bartlett, Duffen, Brown days and Duffen may indeed have had a bad press due to the incompetency of others, the point is he was supposed to be dealing with our finances and if others were mishandling things, he certainly didn't speak out or even do the honourable thing and resign, so if nothing else he is guilty of doing nothing to prevent others almost bankrupting the club. I fear the Allams will lose a lot of goodwill from the fans if Duffen is let anywhere near our finances again. On a happier note, great to see us doing so well. Haven't been able to get to a game this season, hoping to be able to make it before the last home game. Come on you Hull!”

“I recall Dr Allam calling Adam Pearson "A good man." I doubt there are many detractors from that. Undeniably, Adam saved the club, took it through the Divisons and passed it on when he felt he could take it no further. He then brokered the Allam takeover before seemingly getting embroiled in the unsavoury spat between Nick Bramby and Sprog Allam. We don't know all the facts - but I know where my loyalties lie based on the characters involved.

In terms of the history of Hull City Football Club, Adam Pearson is an iconic figure who deserves great respect. By contrast Paul Duffen was a champagne charlie chairman who with the numpty owner Bartlett took the club to the very brink of financial ruin.

I personally think Adam deserves a knighthood for his contribution to sport in this City. He brought self-respect back to the club, did it in a prudent manner and was repected by those who worked for him. That is not brown-nosing Alan. It is a statement of fact. In the interests of preventing a flame war, I will draw no further contrast with owners past or present.”

“Time can tend to make history suit our preferred perspective. I recall many, and I mean many, allegations of criminal activity against the old owners (and to a degree Brown was implicated), what we did not see was anything to substantiate the claims. What have we seen since?

There was an action against Duffen that now seems to have some doubt thrown over it (although would you trust this man?); in particular the use of facts and their discreet use in prosecution (accusing solicitor struck-off) – this is very important in an action in which the person being prosecuted cannot respond – as was the case with Duffen. It is notable though that Duffen has not appealed the process.

So much of the history has been built by what was said by Adam Pearson on his appointment by the Allams. We have seen in recent weeks that there is just as much, if not more controversy over his (AP's) involvement in negotiating various contracts. Could someone be called daft if they were concerned that someone who had negotiated certain terms for a rugby club then bought that same club, which would act against his current employer? Would it not be expected that a rapid change of employment and relationship would evolve? I recall Adam Pearson being given an honorary knighthood on these boards by one who calls others 'Brown-nosers'. No one could even ask a question.

Personally, just as I did then, I think there is much more to come out and a far longer game to be played in this whole affair and I don't think anyone will come out of it smelling of roses. The only good thing is that I believe we are far safer than we have been for decades, this because they are all vying for our betterment as that is the only way they can achieve their own.

I think the universal feeling is that this public reconciliation of Allam and Duffen is strange and lacking any transparency, which it should have after all that has been said and done; If it smells of fish . . .”

“Mornin' HCAFCScarb

Look, mate I was castigated in here by the brown-nosing zealots for questioning Bartlett and Duffen when they were "in charge." When I say "in charge," what I mean is it was like Duffen had just won the lotto and bought a Lambourgini. He was driving it around at 250mph on thick fog after 200 pints of scrumpy in 6 feet of snow. Inevitably, he wrote the motor off but escaped with the loot in the boot.

So here we are now, with Assam Allam (or is it the AA in disguise) rescuing this dodgy driver at an away match. Not sure if Duffen has got the Home Start cover? At the time questions were being asked in Private Eye and other august publications and I heard or read one suggestion that some transfer money had ended up in someone's business account. Whatever the facts are, it all has a bit of a pong about it. And the fact that nobody has come out with the proper story is a pity. If Duffers is innocent of anything other than ineptitude, then it would be nice to have the record straight.

But I will say this. Given the rumours, innuendo and concern about the Duffen and Wally Bartlett years, it looks very very strange for Doctor Allam to be snuggling up to Duffers - even though on the face of it the gesture was a simple invitation to a match. Duffers was at a recent Andy Dawson event along with Browny himself. The latter remains most welcome. Clown though he turned out to be managing a Premiership side, he did get us there.

But Its all very very strange or in the words of George Dixon, "Ello ello ello, what's going on 'ere then?"

And as for your brown-nosing the Allams old lad, it is most unhealthy in my view. Instead I would recommend and open mind in all things to do with the monied classes, government - and actually anyone in a position of power. As a nation we are being royally seen-to by this government and unfortunately people are compliant with the policies that are wrecking our country - like lambs to the slaughter.”

“What ever Assem Allam is "up to" Merlin you should know by now it wil be something of a benefit to Hull City..

The Allams always know what they are doing.

I predict it will stay that way for years to come”

“chill pill Strummer.I was not suggesting Duffen had a magic wand and would have been succesful.Negredo has since been of interest to some big clubs recently if the gossip columns are to be believed.
Michu has worked for Swansea wheras Big Nick not for us.
I was merely asking IF we had signed some other players we may have had a 3rd season(or more)in the prem.
I do not think you can blame Duffen for Hull being unfashionable to most top soccer players.I doubt even you could have persuaded Owen to come here but you can hardly blame people for trying to big us up.
It is easy with hindsight to castigate most football decisions but if we go up again and want to stay there we will need to pay over the odds to get players to live here imo”

“One angle on this might be in the saying "My enemy's enemy is my friend." Ol' assem seems to me to be quite uppity when someone pizzas him off. Is this a digit in the air for Sir Adam?

Otherwise, is our Egyptian owner trying to ruffle the string vest, roll yer own and smelly socks brigade in the council? I know that doesn't narrow it down much but there does seem to be a touch of aggrivation between AA and KUHCC. What I mean is, is Allam feting Duffers as if to suggest there may be some sort of investment coming in - for example in a Melton Sports complex.

Duffers said on falling upon his sword, the very thing I had been writing in here for months at the time - namely that no Chairman or responsible executive in private industry would survive the financial meltdown over which he presided. The Michael Turner deal raised a number of serious allegations and the Bullard deal represented an act of pure madness in committing the club to a 16M exposure which just about wiped us out.

It is amazing now, giben the Allams having put in by guarantee circa £60M that they are kissing the fundamental orifice of the very person that squandered the Premiership monies.

There is one caveat to this analysis. It is that I doubt any of us know all the facts and with that in mind beyond the fairly safe conslusion that he was useless I would not confidently stick any other label on him.

We one had a curious Mr Bartlett. Now, we certainly do have a curious Mr Allam. Just what is HE up to?”

“Cafesociety 1.Thurs,Mar 7 2013,1.57pm.

"Cluehead.You ar assuming that further player signings would not have kept us in the Prem which may have increased our revenue"...

This was the man (Duffen) who promised us that 'blow your socks off signing'.Players like Negredo and Michael Owen rolled off the tongue with relative ease.

WE GOT.....Ibrahima Sonko!!!

Here's a rough excerpt from a National Newspaper.

Ibrahima Sonko spent 2009/2010 on loan at Hull where he picked up a staggering £1,631 per MINUTE on the pitch.

"Sonko signed a season long deal from Stoke to Hull on transfer deadline day in September 2009"..."By January,boss Phil Brown had changed his mind on Sonko and told him he could go back to Stoke----Only he wasn't allowed to.The terms of the deal meant he had to stay put unless Stoke 'accepted' him back-but they didn't want him either".

If you honestly think that Paul Duffen would've guided us to safety given further funding,you quite clearly need your head looking at!!!!!”

“Cluhead.You ar assuming that further player signings would not have kept us in the Prem which may have increased our revenue.”