Former Tory MP David Mellor has apologised to Hull City after claiming the club should not be in the Premier League.

When the Tigers clinched promotion to the top flight of English football for the first time, Mellor wrote in the London Evening Standard: "Dean Windass scores a Wembley goal at the age of 39 to put Hull into the Premier League.

"Great, and not so great. Good for him of course, but the idea of Windass turning out in the top flight next season at 40 is a joke.

"As perhaps is the thought of Hull staying up barring a miracle; on an honest view they'll be lucky to get as many points as Derby.

"Once you cut through the inevitable sentimentality about a small club's triumph, the truth is the Premier League as an internationally credible competition is damaged by such promotions.

"If the Championship can't throw up more credible candidates than Hull, then perhaps we should go back to two-up two-down again."

But, after the team's glorious 2-1 win at Arsenal last weekend, he has printed an apology.

It said: "Last summer, I wrote disrespectfully about Hull's promotion to the Premier League. It is time to apologise.

"To beat Arsenal at the Emirates is a formidable achievement. But they've done more than that, winning three and drawing two of their first six matches.

"And they are still unbeaten on the road. No doubt tough times lie ahead and it may yet all end in tears but already Hull have justified their place in the top flight.

"Derby County they ain't."