Hull City: Bartlett new chairman in boardroom changes

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Tuesday, May 11, 2010
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This is HullandEastRiding

HULL City have made boardroom changes in their bid to steer the club away from administration, with owner Russell Bartlett now acting as chairman.

It is a move which will see former chairman Adam Pearson move to the role of head of football operations, tasked with reshaping the Tigers squad for next season and reducing the £38.9m wage bill.

The changes have also seen the club appoint insolvency expert Martin Fry to work alongside Bartlett in dealing with the financial troubles at the club, and to negotiate with creditors to reshedule repayments.

Asked about the changes, Pearson told BBC Radio Humberside: “We are going to run it that way. I will be running the football side of things, including sorting out the management, getting the players out and getting the contracts sorted out so they do not strangle the club.

“He (Fry) understands this process very well and he will be working with Russell on the financial side of the club."

Bartlett remains confident the club can trade through the difficulties and emerge with a competitive squad in the Championship next season.

And his hopes were boosted yesterday as Football League clubs backed plans to extend parachute payments to £48m over four years for sides relegated from the Premier League.

It came as Pearson also admitted that the club had met with the playing squad yesterday to urge them to take pay cuts to help avoid administration.

"We have talked to the players and they have gone away to think about it," Pearson said.

"We have got a decent bunch of lads here who want to help the club and I would be surprised if they did not try to help. But the payers were given those contracts."

“We have a massive two weeks to try and manage the debt. It is a debt that should never have been at this club. To spend £36m in 18 months takes some doing.”

Although not commenting on what reduction the club had asked players to accept, it is thought it is around 30 per cent.

Bartlett has previously told the Mail that City's wage bill will fall from £38.9m to £21m on June 30, when some players come out of contract, long term loans end and a series of contract clauses - thought to be cuts of 25 per cent - come into force.

That would leave City needing to trim a further £6m off the bill to reach Bartlett's target of a £15m wage bill for next season.

Big contracts such as those for Jimmy Bullard (£45,000 a week) and Geovanni (£30,000 a week) are the biggest problems facing the Tigers, as both men do not have relegation clauses in their deals.

However, should Bullard accept a 30 per cent cut, it could help wipe close to £1m off the annual wage bill alone.

Pearson also admitted the club was unlikely to be appointing a new manager in any rush, as reported in yesterday's Mail, as he said it would be wrong to do so given the present uncertainty over the club's future.

He and Bartlett are due to meet former boss Phil Brown tomorrow - who has been on gardening leave since March - with both parties thought to be willing to part ways.

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82 Comments

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by stuart, philippines

    Wednesday, May 12 2010, 12:35AM

    “James, have just got out of bed!. Its 7.30 Wed morn here in the
    philippines. Have been here for about 5 years. lived in Guadaloupe Cebu for a while . Inow live near Clark Airbase, Angeles, Pampanga. 2 hours north of Manila. Regards to all you Tigers supporters.”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Bobby, Hull

    Tuesday, May 11 2010, 9:43PM

    “Terry, spot on mate, HDM have the Wrong name again, its Mark Fry in Wikipedia :)”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by cafe, prinny ave

    Tuesday, May 11 2010, 9:35PM

    “Get ready to uncork the chianti.
    The real messiah will be back!!”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Terry, Anlaby

    Tuesday, May 11 2010, 9:17PM

    “The insolvency guy is called Mark Fry. Not martin. He was the administrator at Southampton. Bad omen.”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by John, Walkington

    Tuesday, May 11 2010, 9:14PM

    “Just hope for some really good news tomorrow. With the sorry state we have found ourselves in we could do with some.”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Chairman Out!!!!!!!, France

    Tuesday, May 11 2010, 9:06PM

    “Well i did say about 2 weeks ago chairman out and at the time i was repeatedly shot down, Finally someones seen sense, Very good move for City, Pearsons not the man for the chairmans job”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Bobby, Hull

    Tuesday, May 11 2010, 9:06PM

    “cafe, dos cafe con lecie porvavor in da morning, grasius, something like that, will need it if that happen, hell, would set the sportsworld in a tizz ;) Ps nothing certain in football”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by Alan, South Cave

    Tuesday, May 11 2010, 8:57PM

    “As Bullard seems to think he signed for the great tanned one and not Hull City,he ought to go round to Brown and get him to pay his £45k wages. That would save us £2.34 million.”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by cafe, Prinny AVE

    Tuesday, May 11 2010, 8:40PM

    “The future is bright
    The future is orangeTASTIC!!!!
    Refreshed and ready to put in a shift!!!!!!!!
    The sun will shine in the morning”

  • Profile image for This is HullandEastRiding

    by E.G.Chaser, boulevard

    Tuesday, May 11 2010, 8:31PM

    “Could football not follow rugby leagues example and bring in a salary cap so no-one gets paid more than some ridiculous ruling that no-one really understands?
    Then it gets stretched and bent so the so-called salary cap isnt really a cap at all, its just nonsence.
    Like the super league "competition" which isnt a competition at all. No-one gets relegated, lose all your games and it doesnt matter.
    Maybe Mr. Bartlett would have been better off buying a super league franchise because he could be successful in places like Hull and featherstone, no worries, no relegations, no-one really bothered if you win lose or draw, but you still get a chance of playing at Wembley.
    I'm surprised the rest of the country hasnt caught on yet. I wonder why that is?”

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