• Father and son want to include ‘Tigers’ in club name
• FA will decide on proposal at meeting on 9 April

Should Hull City’s owners fail to persuade the Football Association to allow them to re-brand the club as “Hull Tigers” they may be forced to raise season ticket prices by almost 50%, according to the club’s vice-chairman, Ehab Allam.

Assem and Ehab Allam, Hull’s owners are understood to have lined up at least two potential major sponsorship deals with global companies for next season but they are contingent on the word “Tigers” becoming part of Hull’s name.

If, when the FA meets to decide on the proposed re-brand on 9 April, the Allams are not permitted to introduce “Tigers” Hull face the prospect of being without a shirt sponsor when the current deal with Cash Converters concludes at the end of this season.

Much depends on whether Steve Bruce’s side avoid relegation back to the Championship but the possibility of lifting season ticket prices from the present top price of £490 to £750 has already been discussed. “It may be an avenue we are forced to explore and adopt,” Ehab Allam told the Hull Daily Mail. “However, whilst it may provide a short-term revenue lift we do not believe constantly raising prices is a viable long-term option.”

• Hull City

Louise Taylor

theguardian.com