Source: PA
Barmby: We will be in the mix
Hull veteran Nick Barmby believes his side will be strong contenders for promotion in the npower Championship this season.
The Tigers begin life in the second tier following relegation from the Premier League at home to Swansea on Saturday and the midfielder is confident they can get off a strong start.
Barmby, 36, reckons Nigel Pearson's team will be in the running for an immediate return to the top flight come the end of the season - although he recognises competition will be fierce.
"I expect us to be in the mix, I really do," Barmby told the club's official website. "I think we've got the chance to have a really good season and I would say this is probably going to be the most wide open Championship for a long time.
"There are probably at least 12 or 14 teams challenging for those play-off and promotion spots and hopefully we will be one of them. We'll certainly be working our hardest to make that happen.
"Preparations have gone well and we've been getting ready for the Swansea game for the last couple of weeks. This is a fresh start, the right people are in charge both on and off the pitch and we're all ready to go."
