Hull City are preparing for their Premier League debut. Chris Harvey looks at how their plans are going.
We look at how sides are gearing up for the new campagn
Hull City are preparing for their first season in the Premier League after promotion through the play-offs. Whether they can survive in the top flight will depend on manager Phil Brown's ability to sell the Tigers to prospective signings.
Chris Harvey looks at how plans are shaping up at the KC Stadium.
What's happened so far
Not an awful lot really although, as is often the case with promoted clubs flush with cash, the Tigers have been linked with a host of players.
Brown insists he is looking long-term and will not be rushed into panic buys but there is no doubt he needs to bring in several new faces to make sure their spell in the top flight is more than merely a short-lived flirtation.
So far, midfielder Craig Fagan is the only confirmed signing but having spent last season on loan from Derby he is already familiar to fans. More worryingly he was not considered up to Premier League level last term as the Rams endured the worst season in top flight history.
Not surprisingly, Brown has used his Bolton links to investigate one or two transfer options. French international defender Bernard Mendy - who spent a spell on loan at the Reebok - has been offered a deal to move to the KC Stadium.
However, Mendy has other options on the table as does Greek international Stelios Giannakopoulos who is out of contract at Bolton and is debating what the future holds. Rumours are also rife around the city that former Italy international Christian Vieri will join from Fiorentina.
While the Tigers are undoubtedly flush with cash, chairman Paul Duffen insists they are in this for the long haul and will not be enticed into a bidding war for Plymouth winger Peter Halmosi.
The Pilgrims have slapped a £3m price tag on Halmosi but it seems unikely City will be prepared to part with that kind of cash, having tabled a £2million bid.
What they need
To have a realistic chance of surviving more than one season in the top flight, the Tigers need to strengthen in virtually all areas.
With the exception of evergreen pair Dean Windass and Nick Barmby, City are short on Premier League experience and will need to bring that know-how to the KC quickly.
Their ability to lure young striker Fraizer Campbell - who proved a revelation while on-loan at City last term - back to Hull may well depend on how Manchester United's pre-season shopping goes.
With the Red Devils set to unload Louis Saha, Sir Alex Ferguson could look to Campbell as a back-up striker. The youngster looks likely to be involved in the champions' pre-season games and should no new forwards arrive at Old Trafford then Campbell may stay, much to the frustration of Phil Brown.
The Tigers have confirmed their interest in a number of players with Premier League credentials, among them Tottenham centre-back Anthony Gardner.
But a solid rearguard will not be sufficient to keep City in the top flight and Brown needs to add creativity to an already hard-working midfield.
Brazilian playmaker Geovanni could add that touch of imagination and the former Manchester City star is being strongly linked with a move to East Yorkshire.
Add some pace down the flanks and Geovanni could be just the man to give Tigers fans some encouragement during the campaign.
What they'll get
It's likely the players Brown manages to entice to Hull will have plenty to prove and it is a tall order to expect all will prove a success.
Early indications are City will be targeting players released by Premier League clubs and much will fall on the manager's shoulders as he tries to motivate them to new heights.
Brown's spell at Bolton with Sam Allardyce is likely to act as a blueprint for the coming season and Wanderers had a terrific track record in squeezing inspired performances from the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha, Kevin Davies and Ivan Campo - players deemed surplus to requirements at their former clubs.
Taking prospective signings such as Geovanni and another former Manchester City striker Emile Mpenza to their pre-season training camp in Italy may prove a masterstroke as Brown looks to sell the Premier League newcomers to prospective employees.
Brown's Bolton connections could also come in handy with players such as Stelios Giannakopoulos and Bernard Mendy already familiar with Brown's methods. At least one is likely to begin the season at the KC.
Brown's most difficult task could be persuading players to move to Hull itself.
While the Tigers may have plenty of cash plus an excellent stadium and facilities, the city has an undeserved reputation as an unfashionable place to live - a problem teams such as Sunderland and Middlesbrough have had to overcome in the past.
But should Brown wow the likes of Geovanni and Mpenza in Italy and follow that up with a tour of Hull's leafy suburbs then Tigers fans can expect to be watching some continental talent come August.
Fan's view - Tom Harvey-Young
The key to Hull City's promotion was team spirit and I would hate to see that destroyed by bringing in too many new signings.
Ideally we need two or three first team players with a couple more to bolster our squad which is not the biggest.
Defensively we were solid last year but we need Premier League experience - someone like Sol Campbell would be ideal. I'm not convinced Andy Dawson is top-flight quality either so we should look to replace him.
We need some pace on the flanks as I don't think Brian Hughes can cut it at the highest level. Someone of the calibre of James Milner or Aaron Lennon would be the dream ticket but that may be setting our sights a bit high.
The absolute key though is to sign Fraizer Campbell, either on loan for the season or permanently. We created lots of chances last term and we have to have someone to put them away.
Dean Windass and Nick Barmby deserve another crack at the Premier League but we can't expect them to be regulars - but bringing in the likes of Craig Fagan on a permanent deal is not the sort of signing we need.
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