Hull City: Tim Walter admission only adds to supporter worries with Bristol City in mind: View | OneFootball

The Tigers are still significantly short of depth across all areas with the Championship season looming closer

As the opening day of the season draws ever closer, the optimism we've seen surround Hull City in previous pre-seasons has rather dissipated.

Understandably, the results of City's outings against Kasimpasa, Fenerbahçe and Doncaster Rovers look underwhelming on paper, but with full-time scores at this point of the campaign rather meaningless, it's the overall circumstances of the club's preparations that have created a major cause for concern among sections of the fanbase.

And, in truth, new boss Tim Walter's subsequent admission regarding the current landscape of his squad will do nothing but add to those feelings, especially with the first game of the season, a home outing against Bristol City, just over two weeks away.

Tim Walter's alarming post-Doncaster Rovers admission

Naturally, the short trip to the Eco-Power Stadium saw a number of academy graduates and players who, last season, were on the fringes of Liam Rosenior's first-team squad be assessed further under the watchful eye of the former Hamburg SV boss.

This included the likes of Xavier Simons, who impressed during a handful of prior appearances for the club, as well as Andy Smith, Brandon Fleming and Harry Vaughan - all of whom were loaned out last season to enhance their future development.

Obviously, a large chunk of the youngsters who started the encounter against a side full of League Two experience, will see their minutes in the first-team picture limited, but for some, at present, they would be tasked with potentially stepping into the XI if drastic improvements are made in terms of depth and quality, highlighted by the German's honest stance to Hull Live.

"Yes, (some of the youngsters are not quite at the level) that's what we saw and for everybody who is here or on the TV. They saw that we need more numbers and that's the point, because, yes, to step into the Championship and to secure our goals, that's not possible with that squad at the moment," Walter stated.

"We keep going because I'm the coach, I'm the gaffer, and it's the only way I can do and the rest is up to the management."

Hull City need to add strength-in-depth

The frustration surrounding supporters will also be that a number of their divisional counterparts have utilised the transfer market to good effect and even beaten the Tigers to targets, such as Kieffer Moore, who joined Sheffield United from AFC Bournemouth just days after the East Yorkshire side had reportedly struck their own agreement for his signature.

However, on the flip-side, to add some form of positivity, the Tigers were able to fend off second tier rivals with the acquisition of ex-Leeds United full-back Cody Drameh, who adds significant Championship quality and experience at right-back, as well as having significant potential at the age of just 22.

This, alongside the permanent transfer of Ryan Giles from Luton Town represents two significant deals for a side harbouring ambitions of play-offs after last season's frustrating near miss.

But, the truth of the matter is that there are still plenty of areas which are lacking in both numbers and quality, especially in the attacking and midfield department, although Oscar Estupinan has been recalled after a somewhat fruitful loan spell with Brazilian side Bahia, as well as Leicester City's Kasey McAteer emerging as a potential target to fill a gaping hole in wide areas.

Through the expiration of contract and loan deals and player sales, Hull have lost 63 of their 68 goals from last season, which includes defender Jacob Greaves and Jaden Philogene, whose exits were expected for the most part, but the accumulation of approximately £28m upfront for two of the most sought-after talents in last season's second tier leaves another bitter pill for City fans to swallow.

Whilst it's understandable not all of those funds can be re-invested into the playing staff at the MKM, to meet Acun Ilicali's pledge of "eight or nine"new transfers across the window, further new recruits must be added to the squad as soon as possible, or the club run the risk of an unsettled lineup with a miniscule gelling period prior to the season kick-off, which presents a potentially major disadvantage.