Hull City is in new ownership after league officials gave the go-ahead to Turkish TV mogul Acun Ilicali’s take-over.

He has bought out the Allam family, prominent but controversial figures at the helm of an East Yorkshire marine generator business, after more than a decade at the helm.

And flying into Humberside Airport after leaving a film set in the Dominican Republic – with an orchestrated loop of the MKM Stadium before touching down – his new charges secured a 2-0 win.

Read more:Sewell Group puts its name to Hull KR stadium

Mr Ilicali, understood to have a personal fortune of £100 million – said: “I’m very excited. It has been a long journey for us. It’s not easy to buy a club and it has been a six month process.

“I had a dream and today my dream came true.

“There are many things we want to do to improve the club and that is important for us. The club has the potential to be a big club. It is a big club already but can be a bigger club.

“I know what it is to be a fan of a football club and I will give everything to make our fans feel more supported. We will try to make history with the fans.



Mr Ilicali on the pitch at the MKM Stadium.
Mr Ilicali on the pitch at the MKM Stadium.

“I haven’t achieved anything in my life by myself, I have always done everything with the team. We are a team together, us with the supporters, we are a big family.”

Hull City Council has welcomed the announcement, having played a pivotal role with the development of a top-level stadium following its sale of KCom.

Councillor Daren Hale said: “I would like to congratulate Mr Ilicali on his acquisition and very much look forward to meeting and welcoming him and his team to our city, and to finding out more about his ambitious plans for the club.

“The council has long recognised the importance of professional sport to Hull, with all the benefits it brings in terms of community pride, raising Hull’s profile in the UK and around the world and being a catalyst for attracting visitors and inward investment to our city.

“The construction of the stadium by Hull City Council back in 2002, which I was personally involved with, in order to secure the futures of both Hull City and Hull FC, was a substantial demonstration of that commitment and we very much look forward to working with Mr Ilicali and his team to ensure both clubs and the stadium have bright futures ahead of them at the centre of our community.

“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Assem and Ehab Allam for their custodianship of the club since 2010.”

It is the second takeover of one of the Humber’s three professional football teams in the past year.

The Grimsby-born duo of tech entrepreneur Jason Stockwood and butcher’s son turned City investor Andrew Pettit have taken over at Grimsby Town, with seafood industry leader John Fenty bought out.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest developments – follow BusinessLive Humber on Twitter and LinkedIn.