Tigers pledge to back Fagan
18 Sep 2008 - 09:01:40
Hull City have pledged to support Craig Fagan following reports that he may take legal action against Newcastle United's Danny Guthrie over the tackle that broke his leg.
Fagan faces three months on the sidelines after Guthrie broke his leg with a tackle during the Tigers' 2-1 victory at St James' Park on Saturday.
Guthrie was red-carded for a crude hack at the Hull forward and after the incident manager Phil Brown called on the Football Association to take serious action.
However, the England Under-21 international will serve only the mandatory three-match ban after the FA revealed on Wednesday that they were powerless to increase the punishment.
"This is the sort of incident that, had it happened in the street, would have been regarded as common assault," Hull chairman Paul Duffen told the Daily Mirror.
"I wouldn't want to prejudice any potential further action from Craig, yet what I will say is that he has the club's full support on this matter.
"We will be sitting down with him and discussing what to do, what decision or what action he might want to take.
"The timing of it for Craig and the implications, short-term, for his career could be significant.
"He was in the team, playing well and you have to take into account his earning ability in terms of performance bonuses and things like that."