Hull takeover not imminent but owners and directors test in progress

25 August 2016 11:53

Hull are not expecting a speedy conclusion to their pending takeover, Press Association Sport understands.

The sale of the club to a Chinese consortium reportedly hinges on the Football Association's owners and directors test, but this process is expected to take several weeks before a deal can be finalised.

It is understood the Premier League, which administers the test for its members, launched the process three weeks ago and this remains ongoing.

The club announced in July that takeover talks would be put on hold until after the transfer window had closed in September, after initially opening talks with several interested parties in May.

Representatives of a Chinese consortium watched Hull's opening-day win against Leicester at the KCOM Stadium and it has been reported that current owners the Allam family will sell to a brother and sister partnership of Dai Yongge and Dai Xin Li.

The club was put up for sale in 2014 after the FA rejected chairman Assem Allam's bid to change their name to Hull Tigers, a move which was vehemently opposed by the majority of Hull's fans.

The Allam family have since come under increasing pressure from supporters, whose discontent with how the club was being run reached new heights following the departure of former manager Steve Bruce in July.

Bruce had grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of new signings after Hull had won promotion back to the top flight in May and had expressed doubts about his future before Hull's play-off final win against Sheffield Wednesday.

Source: PA