Source: Telegraph
Hull City keen to host 2018 World Cup matches at KC Stadium
The former Leeds United director called for an end to the negativity he feels is undermining the bid as he prepared to submit Hull's bid to become a host city to the 2018 team at Wembley Stadium.[LNB]Pearson believes that the 2018 bid leaders must shrug off the stinging criticism from Fifa vice-president Jack Warner to make sure that their campaign is successful, following a series of set-backs which saw Premier League chairman Dave Richards quit the bid team this week. [LNB] Related ArticlesHull City 3 Everton 2Everton 'disappointed' as stadium plans rejectedPremier League actionPremier League fixturesPremier League tableSport on television'We can always talk ourselves down in this country but t all needs to be seen in perspective,' Pearson said. [LNB]'We now need to get on the front foot. I think that Mr Warner came over to the conference at Chelsea and I heard his address and I found it provocative and looking for a few headlines. [LNB]'He started the hare running and everyone has been criticising us ever since. Behind the scenes I think that Fifa are extremely impressed by the bid over in England and the way it us being put together and are holding us up as a bit of a flagship.[LNB]'We all like to knock each other over here and everyone is having a dig. Hopefully we can all now get back on the front foot and be positive and get it right in the next six months.'[LNB]Pearson was lured back to Hull following a stint as Derby County chairman in an effort to sort out the Premier League's financial problems and he believes host city status would have important spin-off for the Tigers and the city as a whole.[LNB]'It would be fantastic for the city of Hull and this area was to become a host city,' Pearson added. [LNB]'I have looked at it up and down and I can't see any downsides to it at all. It would lead to great re-generation of this area which has been on its knees a little bit.[LNB]'It would make the stadium bigger which a Premier League club needs. It would mean having two or three big nations coming here to play their football and ten years ago we certainly wouldn't have been looking at that. [LNB]'But the World Cup is not the only way this stadium would be extended. Not at all. When we have established ourselves in the Premier League for a decent amount of years then I think that if it is managed right it should provide the financials and the funding to do the extension as well.'[LNB]
