Hull City

Odds: 66/1

Last Five Seasons

2005/06 – 18 (Championship), 2004/05 – 2 (League One, Promoted), 2003/04 – 2 (League Two, Promoted), 2002/03 – 13 (League Two), 2001/02 – 11 (League Two).

2005/06 Cup Progress

FA Cup Third Round vs Aston Villa (h) – lost 1-0.

Carling Cup First Round vs Blackpool (a) – lost 2-1.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Stuart Elliott (midfield) – 7 goals.

Players In

Michael Turner (Brentford – £350,000), Sam Ricketts (Swansea City – £300,000), Dean Marney (Tottenham Hotspur – Undisclosed),

Players Out

Leon Cort (Crystal Palace – £1,250,000), Kevin Ellison (Tranmere Rovers – Undisclosed), Robbie Stockdale (Tranmere Rovers – Free), Scott Wiseman (Rotherham United – Loan).

Hull City survived their first season in the Championship and will look to improve on last season’s eighteenth placed finish under new manager Phil Parkinson. Former employers Colchester United were not keen on him leaving following their own promotion to the division and even gained a temporary High Court injunction preventing him from leaving the club. However, the relented when Hull paid £400,000 compensation and accepted Parkinson’s resignation.

Parkinson will be without star defender Leon Cort who joined Crystal Palace for £1.25 million but has been busy in the transfer market strengthening the squad. Cort’s replacement is Brentford’s Michael Turner who joined in a £350,000 transfer. Turner began his career at Charlton Athletic before joining the Bees following a loan spell in 2004. He made 94 appearances and scored three goals during his 18 months at Griffin Park.

Taylor has also signed another defender in Welsh international Sam Ricketts from Swansea for £300,000. Play off losers Swansea were keen on keeping Ricketts, but Hull’s bid triggered a clause in his contract and the player was keen to move on. Ricketts joined Swansea from non league Telford in 2004 and was name in the League Two team of last season.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Dean Marney bolsters the midfield following his signing for an undisclosed fee. The 22 year old decided to join the Kingston Communications Stadium ahead of several other clubs in the Championship.

Hull have been boosted by the news that another former Tottenham player, Nick Barmby, has been given the go ahead to start pre-season training with the rest of the squad after he missed a large part of last season due to an injured hamstring.

Verdict

Hull survived the drop with 10 points to spare last season and this campaign is going to be just as tough. In Phil Parkinson, they have a manager who is able to get the best out of unfancied teams and they should do enough to preserve their Championship status next season.