Hull City: The £400k Rangers transfer that provided a cult hero: View | OneFootball

Highlights

After a disastrous end to the 2019/20 season, changes were a must at Hull City.

The previous season saw the Tigers crumble to pieces after the Deadline Day sales of star performers Jarrod Bowen to West Ham United and Kamil Grosicki, who joined eventual promotion winners, West Bromwich Albion.

Grant McCann'sChampionship, including an 8-0 humiliation at the hands of Wigan Athletic.

This coincided with a period where the pursestrings were tightened in the latter period of the Allam family's ownership of the club, and in an attempt to right the wrongs of what had gone before, McCann had to be astute in the transfer market in order to achieve a first-time promotion.

And, alongside current captain Lewie Coyle, the Northern Irishman found another gem in the form of central midfielder Greg Docherty, who joined from Glasgow Rangers for a fee in the region of just £400,000.

The combative Scotsman would prove to be an instant hit with supporters though - even at a time when the MKM Stadium was empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic - as he was an integral part of the side which won the League One title, the club's first title-winning season since 1966.

In a side which included Mallik Wilks, Keane Lewis-Potter and Josh Magennis, who struck 50 league goals between them, the likes of Docherty still went under-the-radar to an extent, but his efforts were greatly appreciated by the supporters, accumulating five goals and as many assists.

Greg Docherty became a cult hero at Hull City

Since promotion back to the Championship was secured, Docherty's gametime dwindled, but the former Shrewsbury Town loanee continued to stand up and be counted whenever called upon by McCann and his successors, Shota Arveladze and Liam Rosenior.

He would remain a constant figure in midfield alongside the likes of Richie Smallwood and George Honeyman in McCann's preferred 4-3-3 system, which was never adjusted upon returning to the second tier.

Although goal contributions reduced to just one assist and no goals throughout the campaign, Tigers fans remained appreciative of the Scot's role in aiding the club's consolidation in a season of change off the pitch, as Acun Ilicali took over in the boardroom - this swiftly saw Glasweigan become the recipient of a chant to the Oasis hit - 'She's Electric', which was promptly adjusted as the Tigers began to change their ambitions across his time at the club.

The 2022/23 season was where the midfielder's role was somewhat reduced, as Arveladze and Ilicali took a scattergun-type approach to the transfer window, which included the additions of more technical players in the centre of the park, such as Jean Michael Seri and Ozan Tufan.

Docherty was often deployed as a substitute, then brought on by the Georgian or Rosenior in order to see games out, which again didn't go unnoticed on an array of occasions. It also proves Docherty's mentality as a team player, as there were no grudges held when utilised in this particular way, as it would often come to the benefit of the side, a role which continued into the 2023/24 season, although his contract situation remains unclear.

However McCann is now viewed by supporters, they must be thankful that some astute scouting and bargaining brought a cult hero to the club in the first place.