Big claim made on Acun Ilicali ownership of Hull City as manager hunt goes on | OneFootball

Hull City owner Acun Ilicali is seeking investment into the club while looking for a new manager, and a new favourite has emerged for the vacant role

Hull City owner, Acun Ilicali, is reportedly considering fresh investment into the club or potentially even a partial sale, with debts starting to mount.

Ilicali bought Hull in January 2022, but the club have had a difficult time of things since then, finishing in the bottom half of the Championship table three times at the end of each of the four seasons during which he has been involved there.

Last season saw them finish in 21st place in the Championship, avoiding relegation on the last day of the season, with a draw on the final day away to Portsmouth being enough to send Luton Town down in the final relegation place. They sacked manager Ruben Selles twelve days after the end of the season, and have yet to decide upon a replacement, though a surprise favourite has emerged.

Hull City owner is seeking investment and could be open to partial sale

Hull Live report that Ilicali is currently "actively looking for outside investment", and that they've "learnt the City owner has held talks with potential investors in recent months and while no agreement has been found with any one person or group, the City chairman hopes to continue that pursuit in coming months." They also claim that he would also "consider a partial sale of the club".

Hull's financial losses for the 2023/24 season were a big increase on the previous year. Championship clubs are allowed £41.5 million rolling losses over any three-year period. They're currently well clear of this, but another year without arresting those losses could result in them sailing close to the wind. Losing £21 million in 2024/25 would push them into danger of breaching the rules.

Albert Riera named as contender for the vacant manager's job

Keeping Hull's finances in order is important, but Acun Ilicali also continues to lead their hunt for a manager to replace Ruben Selles at the same time. Ilicali has said that he wanted a quick appointment.

The Sun has reported that former Liverpool winger Albert Riera, who coached FK Celje in Slovenia to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League this season and has previously also had spells with Bordeaux and Olimpia Ljubliana, is a "leading contender" for the vacant position. Although local media close to Hull have played this down.

Add the quest for both new investment into the club and a new manager to the rebuilding work that needs to be carried out to the first-team squad at Hull, and it looks as though the owner's going to have an extremely busy few weeks ahead indeed.