Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has publicly stated his unwavering support for manager Sergej Jakirovic, vowing not to blame him for potential failures as the club embarks on an ambitious squad rebuilding project. With the Premier League season on the horizon, Ilicali acknowledges the significant challenge ahead, stating that the club's future for the next five years will be determined in the coming two months.
Ilicali emphasized a complete alignment with Jakirovic, contrasting it with his previous tenure with manager Liam Rosenior. "If there are some failures, it will not be Sergej’s fault. Maybe the players will be young, inexperienced, new to the Premier League," Ilicali said. "Of course, I will stand by him if he loses games. I will not be judging him by the position in the table. It will be what can we do more to make him successful."
The club has established a transfer budget of £200 million, encompassing fees and wages, to bring in as many as 15 new players. This extensive recruitment drive is described by Ilicali as potentially era-defining. "The next five years of the club’s history will be decided in the next two months," he admitted. "And what we are trying to do is complicated. If you fail, you will be relegated. If you are not careful, you will have players you are then not able to sell. And at worst, this situation can be a disaster for a club."
Rather than pursuing established Premier League players, Ilicali's strategy focuses on acquiring talent from leagues in Germany, Italy, France, and Spain who aspire to play in England's top flight. "So instead of Premier League players past the top of their careers, I go for those who have the dream of playing in the Premier League," he explained. "Boys who want to play in the best league in the world."
Recent acquisitions include 22-year-old Senegalese center-back Nobel Mendy from Rayo Vallecano for £20 million, 23-year-old Greek goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis from Olympiacos, and 23-year-old Lucas Gourna-Douath from Red Bull Salzburg. The club is also reportedly interested in Real Betis winger Pablo Garcia. Teenage Australian defender Lucas Herrington has also joined from Colorado Rapids. A move for Everton midfielder Tim Iroegbunam is still being considered despite a hamstring injury.
Ilicali stressed the importance of acquiring "hungry players, real professionals, dedicated people." He has personally spoken to every player signed this summer and intends to continue this practice until the transfer window closes. "Dedicated people get success. So, 'dedicated' is a word in our transfers," he stated.
The owner also addressed the departure of sporting director Jared Dublin, stating that his salary expectations after promotion exceeded what the club was willing to offer. Dublin has been replaced by Okan Ozkan, with whom Ilicali previously worked.
Despite widespread predictions of relegation, Ilicali remains confident, drawing parallels to the club's Championship promotion. "It’s like last year, when 80 per cent of the football people in England were thinking we were going to be relegated from the Championship," he recalled. "To those who are sceptics, I say: 'Come here and see us first.'"
Ilicali views the club's current underdog status as a positive. "I love to be the 'underdog'," he said. "It would be as good as promotion this year to stay in the league."