Millwall Shock the Championship with £33m Miracle as Hull City Crumble in £56m Disaster!
Hull City are currently searching for their fifth permanent boss since Acun Ilicali bought the club
The 2024/25 season was a desperately disappointing one for Hull City. A draw at Portsmouth on the final day of the campaign ensured the Tigers avoided relegation to League One.
Despite steering City to Championship survival, head coach Ruben Selles was relieved of his duties after just six months in charge. The Spaniard replaced Tim Walter in the managerial hotseat back in December.
It means the Tigers are now searching for their fifth permanent manager since owner Acun Ilicali purchased the club in January 2022. The Turkish businessman was in London last week to step up his search for Selles’ replacement and was joined by new head of recruitment Martin Hodge and international recruitment chief Mustapha Yokes. Sporting director Jared Dublin has also been heavily involved in the process.
While City do not a playing budget the size of Leeds United or Burnley, the latest figures suggest the East Yorkshire club seriously under-performed last term. Transfermarkt have finalised a league table that compares the value of squads to their final position in the Championship standings.
The Tigers were second from bottom in what was a disastrous season. Their squad is valued at £56m and they were 11 places off where they should have been in the second tier of English football, underlining that there is plenty of room for improvement.
No one can accuse Ilicali of not backing his managers in the transfer market. More than £20m was spent last summer on bringing in players such as Liam Millar, Mohamed Belloumi, Ryan Giles, Abu Kamara, Mason Burstow and Charlie Hughes. The club also paid transfer fees for midfielder Eliot Matazo and striker Kyle Joseph in January.
Millwall, managed by Alex Neil, were the best performing team in the Championship when squad value is compared to league position with the Lions being 11 places better off. The London club’s squad value is estimated at £33m which includes loan signings.
The worst performers were Luton Town, who City finished above on goal difference. The Hatters ended up 15 places below where they should be with a squad value of £79m, putting them third in the list of clubs in terms of value.
