Premier League: Assem Allam tells fans he will go if FA don't back Hull Tigers name change
Hull owner Assem Allam has threatened to walk out on the club if the FA fails to back his plans to change the club name.
Last Updated: 14/01/14 4:13pm
Allam wants the club to drop the 'City' from its name and be known as Hull Tigers - a move that has provoked widespread opposition from the club's fans.
However, Allam is unrepentant and says he will pull his investment out of Hull "within 24 hours" if his plans are blocked.
"No-one on earth is allowed to question my business decisions - I won't allow it," he told Sky Sports News. "And I'll give you my CV to give you comfort and show you what I have achieved.
"I'm here to save the club and manage the club for the benefit of the community - it will never, ever be the other way around - take it from me.
"But the community can say "go away" and I will go within 24 hours.
"They can have it if they want, but it is a minority, normally the minority shout louder. I don't go by that, I go by the majority normally, you know this from many many examples.
"I haven't met more than two in the last month who say they would rather keep the name and play conference, I've had two people saying that, luckily only two.
"But if the majority are saying that then no harm done, just as soon as I know that it is the majority, and it is not the majority, then I go, I go with a smile."
When asked what would happen if the FA said he could not change the club's name, Allam said: "The same thing. It's a free country. There are no two ways about it - I have never said something and then gone back on it.
"I don't think it's a big issue actually, it's a big issue in the media's mind and the media are aggravating the situation because it suits the media.
"I mix with many people here in the area and outside the area, and it's not a major thing, the feedback I get is "we don't care if you drop City as long as we want to wake up Saturday morning and go to see quality football, and see the top players, some of the top players in the world playing football in our back yard". So I don't see it, from their life as a big issue really.
"We are unique, Hull Tigers are unique, we are the only club not forcing the issue, owners are not forcing the issue."
Allam's statement came as he confirmed City will sign Everton striker Nikica Jelavic today and are in talks with West Brom forward Shane Long.
Steve Bruce has been looking to boost his forward line in the January transfer window and has been linked with the two players for some time.
Croatia international Jelavic moved to Goodison Park from Rangers in a £5.5m deal but has made only 10 Premier League appearances this term and scored his first goals of the season in the 4-0 FA Cup win over QPR.
"He will sign today," Allam said of Jelavic. "It's a massive deal, our biggest ever. The club is moving forward."
Allam is also hopeful they will also be able to bring Republic of Ireland international Long to the KC Stadium.
Long has been linked with a move to East Yorkshire for some time, although Bruce was forced to issue an apology last week after media reports claimed they had already agreed a deal with West Brom for the player.
Allam is hopeful the move will be completed though, leaving Bruce with a potentially new strikeforce for Saturday's trip to Norwich.
"I hope so. I think we agreed terms," said Allam when asked about Long.
"It's a matter of talking, getting the club to release and the player to agree."
