Hull Owner Ilicali Responds to Pundits Before Premier League Return

Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has criticised former England players Joe Cole and Carlton Cole after they questioned the club's prospects of staying in the Premier League. BBC Sport reported that the comments were made on The Dressing Room podcast before Hull's return to the top flight.

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Joe Cole said he would be surprised if Hull avoided relegation and disclosed that he had declined an opportunity to work as a pundit on their opening match. During the discussion, he and Carlton Cole joked about the way Hull reached the Premier League, prompting a public response from Ilicali.

Ilicali wrote on social media that he was disappointed to see Hull and the city criticised by former players. He said the club was accustomed to being underestimated and maintained that Hull had earned promotion. The Turkish businessman has owned the club since January 2022.

Hull secured their Premier League place with a last-minute victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May. The promotion completed a sharp change in fortunes after the club escaped relegation to League One on goal difference in 2025.

Manager Sergej Jakirovic also addressed the remarks on Thursday, describing them as motivation for his team to prove the pundits wrong. He acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead but said Hull could compete and demonstrate their potential on the pitch. Carlton Cole later posted a video in which he characterised the podcast exchange as banter and said he loved Hull City.

The coming campaign will be Hull's first in the Premier League since 2017. BBC Sport reported that the club has spent 70 million pounds on new signings during the summer as it prepares for the step up. Hull open their league schedule at home to Manchester United on Saturday, when the focus will move from the pundits' predictions to the promoted side's performance.