Hull City v
Middlesbro'
Sat 6th Dec - Kingston Communications Stadium
Last updated: 2nd October 2008
Duffen with manager Phil Brown
The target remains what it has always been - to retain our Premier League status.
Paul Duffen
Quotes of the week
Hull City chairman Paul Duffen insists survival remains the club's No.1 priority regardless of their stunning start to life in the Premier League.
The East Yorkshire side are currently riding high in sixth spot six games into the new campaign despite being tipped by many for a season of struggle following promotion via the Championship play-offs.
One might be surprised to hear a club in sixth place worrying about the drop, but Duffen insists that until the club's Premier League status is secured for another season their goal will not waver.
"A point a game across the season means you usually stay in the Premier League, whereas we are close to two at the moment," he told the Yorkshire Post.
"It is encouraging, of course it is. But the target remains what it has always been - to retain our Premier League status. That will not change.
"Before last season, we set the target of a top-half finish and that never wavered because, as a club, we are not in the business of moving the goalposts during a season. Anything else was a bonus, as it would be this season.
"What we have to remember is it is a long campaign with 38 very difficult games to get through. And I am sure that, at some stage, we will hit a dip in form."
Premier League clubs have been targeted by foreign investment in recent years, including the likes of Aston Villa and Liverpool and more recently Manchester City, but Duffen insists there has been no interest in the KC Stadium outfit.
The Tigers supremo believes lack of interest demonstrates a sign of strength as the club are not available on the cheap and that interested parties would have to pay an inflated price to get their hands on the club.
When asked if the club had been contacted by potential suitors, he replied: "No, none at all and I believe that is because people don't see us as vulnerable.
"You only get buyers chasing something that is for sale because, otherwise, they won't get it. Or if they do, they will have to pay an unrealistic price.
"It is good from our point of view that no-one has shown any interest as it shows what a position of strength the club is in."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Middlesbrough |
| Saturday 13th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Hull |
| Saturday 20th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Sunderland |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Brom |
| Saturday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| Saturday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| Saturday 28th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Blackburn |
| Wednesday 4th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Hull |
| Saturday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Newcastle |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 2 - 2 Hull | |
| Sunday 16th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Saturday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Bolton | |
| Saturday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 4 - 3 Hull | |
| Wednesday 29th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Brom 0 - 3 Hull | |
| Sunday 19th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 0 West Ham | |
| Sunday 5th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 0 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 1 - 2 Hull | |
| Sunday 21st September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 2 - 2 Everton | |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 1 - 2 Hull | |
| Saturday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 5 Wigan | |
| Tuesday 26th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Swansea 2 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Fulham | |
| Saturday 9th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Osasuna | |
| Sunday 3rd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Hearts 1 - 0 Hull | |
| Tuesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Oldham 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Saturday 26th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Crewe 4 - 0 Hull | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Arsenal | 15 | 26 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 15 | 25 |
| 6 | Hull City | 15 | 23 |
| 7 | Everton | 15 | 22 |
| 8 | Portsmouth | 15 | 22 |
Arsenal and Bolton pick up the plaudits as Chris Kamara names his Premier League picks of the weekend.
London and Manchester served up derbies to remember but the North East failed to deliver.
Phil Brown is hoping to reach an agreement with Wigan which will allow Marlon King to remain at Hull City.
Phil Brown insists his focus is on the next two years at Hull City after he was linked with Sunderland.
Craig Fagan has forgiven Newcastle's Danny Guthrie for the tackle that left him nursing a broken leg.
Phil Brown believes the next few weeks could prove to be the defining moment in Hull's season.
Anthony Gardner is expected to miss Hull's next two games before being ready to make his comeback.