City’s squad numbers for 2011/12 released today do not include Jimmy Bullard, Seyi Olofinjana or Kamel Ghilas.

Bullard was also missing when the squad numbers came out this time last year before returning to the first team in September 2010 wearing number 27. That number remains free this season, while his favourite number, 21, was assigned to Kevin Kilbane before he moved on a 6-month loan to Derby today.

Olofinjana – number 15 last season before being loaned to Cardiff – has also been omitted. Paul McShane, whom the club would also like to move on, has been given that number but will miss the start of the season through injury.

Ghilas has played a small part in pre-season friendlies but does not appear to be in serious contention for the first team.

If anything is to be read into the first 11 numbers, which it usually shouldn’t, Adrian Basso has the number 1 shirt and would be behind a defence of Liam Rosenior (2), Andy Dawson (3), James Chester (5) and Jack Hobbs (6). Paul McKenna (4) and Corry Evans (8) would be in midfield, and Aaron Mclean (9) leads the attack assisted by Cameron Stewart (7), Robert Koren (10) and Jay Simpson (11).

However, Matty Fryatt (keeping 12), Joe Dudgeon (19) and Robert Brady (17) are more likely to be among Nigel Pearson’s first choices.

Goalkeeper Peter Galucsi, on loan from Liverpool, has 24 while Daniel East (25) and Sonny Bradley (26) are in the first team picture with Pearson short of experienced defenders.

The full list is:
1. Adriano Basso
2. Liam Rosenior
3. Andy Dawson
4. Paul McKenna
5. James Chester
6. Jack Hobbs
7. Cameron Stewart
8. Corry Evans
9. Aaron Mclean
10. Robert Koren
11. Jay Simpson
12. Matty Fryatt
13. Mark Oxley
14. Tom Cairney
15. Paul McShane
16. James Harper
17. Robert Brady
18. Nick Barmby
19. Joe Dudgeon
20. Jamie Devitt
21. Kevin Kilbane
22. Dele Adebola
23. Will Atkinson
24. Peter Gulacsi
25. Daniel East
26. Sonny Bradley

Hull City’s opening game of the 2011/12 season will also be the first Championship fixture of the new season.

Blackpool’s official website has announced that the game will be moved forward to Friday 5th August, kicking off at 7:45pm, in order to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Sky and the BBC have yet to publish which other games have been moved for TV coverage but news is filtering through on individual club websites. Southampton v Leeds will be a Saturday teatime game on Sky following nine non-televised 3 o’clock kick-offs, while West Ham v Cardiff will be a Sunday lunchtime game on the BBC.

Nigel Pearson has brought in Dean Lisles until the end of the season.

The 18-year-old defender was offered a short-term professional contract at York City after completing a two-year scholarship in May, but was released in October as soon as new manager Gary Mills took over without making a first team appearance. He was quickly snapped up by Ossett Town in the Northern Premier League.

The 6’2″ brave centre back is also capable of playing on the right side of defence.

He has recently spent time with Hull City on trial terms. He will now have four months to show what he can do in training and the reserves to earn a long-term contract but is unlikely to be considered for the first team’s defence, where Nigel Pearson still requires more cover.

QPR striker Rowan Vine has joined the club on a month’s loan, covering the next six games.

With a one-in-four-starts goal record, Vine has a fair idea of where the back of the net is, but he also comes with a reputation as being a consistent supplier with assists.

He’s available for tomorrow’s game against Coventry, and could be the foil much needed by Jay Simpson, who has yet to score for the club. Simpson did though find the net 12 times last season for QPR, three of which were scored whilst Vine was also on the pitch.

Vine started his career at Portsmouth and had loan spells at Brentford, Colchester and Luton, where he pipped the Tigers to the League One title in 2005. He joined the Hatters permanently following their promotion for £250,000.

They sold him to Birmingham in January 2007 for ten times what they paid for him. However, he scored just once for the Blues and was loaned out to QPR a year later, a move which became permanent for £1million.

He broke his leg in April 2008 and has since struggled to hold down a first team place at Loftus Road, with just two goals to his name since the injury. He has yet to make an appearance this season.

Jimmy Bullard is in the starting line-up for tonight’s match against Derby County, while captain Ian Ashbee is dropped.

Bullard, now wearing number 27, has not played since the 0-1 home defeat to Sunderland in April, when he missed a penalty and relegation was all but mathematically certain. He has not even been on the bench or played in a reserve or friendly game since then, but is chosen by Nigel Pearson for the first time for tonight’s meeting with Derby at The Circle.

Ashbee, who has started every league game this season after recovering from the injury that ruled him out for the entire 2009/10 campaign, starts the game on the bench. Richard Garcia and Kevin Kilbane will join him there, while Nick Barmby isn’t even in the squad.

There are recalls for Tom Cairney, Jay Simpson and John Bostock.

Daniel Ayala is a surprise inclusion in City’s starting line-up at Cardiff today after a loan move from Liverpool went through in secret.

A loan deal had been agreed some time ago but was supposedly dependant on Kamil Zayatte leaving the club first, and the completion of either deal hadn’t been reported.

Zayatte is not on the teamsheet for either Hull City or his apparent destination, Leicester City. However, Ayala is in the Tigers’ starting line-up, with the club’s official site revealing an emergency loan deal being agreed.

The 19-year-old Spaniard is partnered by another debutant, Anthony Gerrard, in central defence. Gerrard is lining up against the club he is on loan from, as is Seyi Olofinjana in the Bluebirds starting eleven. Craig Bellamy misses the match through injury.

Paul McShane, Kevin Kilbane, Richard Garcia and Craig Fagan come into Nigel Pearson’s team, with Liam Cooper, John Bostock and Mark Cullen dropping to the bench and Nolberto Solano not even in the squad.

Arsene Wenger and the Gunners have agreed terms with Hull City for the release of Jay Simpson. The young Arsenal striker has been touted as a signing for a number of Championship clubs with Leeds United, Queen’s Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, and Hull City, as the leading contenders for the 21-year old’s signature.

However, it is believed that Hull City were Simpson’s favored choice from day one, but with the East Yorkshire club undergoing financial restructuring, the deal was far from a formality.

The England U17 and U18 striker has had successful loan spells with three Championship clubs and scored 12 goals in 39 league appearances for Queen’s Park Rangers last season.

According to Simpson’s agent Leon Callender, “Jay is fit, ready and raring to go. He’s played okay in preseason, scored a few goals, and he’s been training well every day.”

He also told the Hull Daily Mail: “He’s looking forward to playing for Hull and he’s up for it as soon as the contract is finalised. Hull has always been his No. 1 choice, and he can’t wait to get started on a new chapter in his career.”

The young player underwent a medical with the club this afternoon, prior to signing for an undisclosed fee, in a three year deal.

The signing can’t come soon enough for Hull City boss, Nigel Pearson. The Tigers have a lack of strikers after the exit of Gabon International Daniel Cousin to Greek side Larissa. The Tigers are still without the services of Irish international Caleb Folan and experienced Premier League striker/winger Craig Fagan, who is still not fit for first team football.

Simpson is the fourth permanent signing for the Tigers,  following Nolberto Solano, James Harper, Robert Koren, and John Bostock on loan.

KC will remain the sponsors of the stadium until 2025.

Kingston Communications have held the naming rights since the stadium was opened in 2002, signing a 10-year deal.

Although the stadium has the non-commercial name of “The Circle”, it has invariably been referred to as “The KC Stadium”, or simply “The KC”.

Now the local telecoms company itself has been rebranded as “KC”, the stadium is officially named “The KC Stadium.”

Comment

It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if KC hadn’t renewed the sponsorship. Would anybody have stopped calling it “The KC”?

Personally, I’d like to see the traditional name of “The Circle” more widely used, but it seems “The KC” is here to stay, at least until the end of the sponsorship deal and most likely forever.

Daniel Cousin has returned to Greek club Larissa on a permanent deal.

He’s signed a two-year contract with them. No fee has been mentioned but it is assumed City were only seeking to get his wages off the books.

It could open up space in the squad for either or both Jay Simpson and Ross McCormack. A deal is reportedly already in place for Simpson to make the move from Arsenal, while McCormack is surplus to requirements at Cardiff after they acquired Craig Bellamy on loan.

Comment

Cousin was about as big a waste of talent – and money – as anybody City picked up during our spell in the Premier League. Certainly a good enough player for that level when he was at his best, I’d hoped he might be revitalised by a return to our side in the Championship. However, it didn’t appear he was going to get back to anything like his best while any time soon, so seeing him off the payroll – presuming Larissa are not getting any subsidy over his wages – is welcome news.

Chairman Russell Bartlett has announced the successful renegotiation of the club’s banking facility with Investec Bank and payment plans with clubs owed over transfers.

After promotion two years ago the club has borrowed money from Investec, which was now due to be repaid. According to a statement by Bartlett on the club’s official website today, that has now been revised, allowing the club an extra two years to pay it off.

“Affordable payment plans” have also been drawn up for outstanding payments due on players bought last year. They will be fully paid off by August next year.

The statement also mentioned continuing “to reshape the playing squad” to bring costs in line.

Comment

This sounds like good news that debts are no longer pressing and can be paid off over time, with no further complications over parachute payments and how they will be spent.

However, there is ambiguity over the final paragraph of Bartlett’s statement. Obviously the club would like to move on those players whose wages don’t fit the structure – Bullard, Cousin etc. – but there’s still no indication of whether this is an absolute necessity, and, if it is, what the fallback position will be if no takers come forward. Will there be any other option than to move on saleable assets instead? Or can we carry the weight a little longer now?

The statement is welcome but from a fan’s perspective, further scrutiny would help us understand the situation and we need the men in charge to be open to that.

Former West Brom midfielder Robert Koren has signed for Hull City on a free transfer.

A two-year deal has been agreed “with a third year option for both parties”, according to City’s official website. Should the paperwork go through in time, he will be in the squad for tomorrow’s game at Millwall.

Koren moved from Slovenia to Lillestrøm in Norway in 2004, before joining West Brom when his contract expired in January 2007. He suffered Championship Play-off Final defeat at the end of 2006/07, but helped the side to the title the following year with 9 league goals. After relegation from the Premier League in 2009, they were celebrating promotion again last season.

The 29-year-old Slovenia international, who captained the side at this year’s World Cup, was released by the Baggies in May after 148 appearances in all competitions and 22 goals. The club’s reasons were the range of midfielders also at the Hawthorns as well as Koren not being a ‘homegrown’ player when it comes to selecting the 25-man squad for the Premier League season.

However, Koren himself had previously gone public on not seeing “eye to eye with the manager” regarding his role in the team, preferring to play in central midfield and not the wide position Roberto Di Matteo was allocating him.

Comment

Koren certainly has the pedigree at this level so there’s no doubting the strength of the signing. The only question is where he will play. He made it clear at West Brom he didn’t want to play on the wing so Nigel Pearson has presumably promised him a central midfield position in the team. With Ian Ashbee and Tom Cairney likely fixtures in the side, it would seem like Pearson must go with three in the middle, as he did against Swansea with John Bostock playing further in front. Koren may then take that place with Bostock shifted out wide.

The role requires the player to support the attack and contribute goals. Pearson evidently didn’t believe Seyi Olofinjana was up to this task, effectively dropping him from the squad in order to bring in Koren.

It also points to City building a team without Jimmy Bullard in it – whether he remains on the wagebill or not.

City will travel to Brentford in the second round of this season’s League Cup.

The draw was made last night, with League One’s Brentford – who beat Cheltenham in the first round – playing host to Hull City – who received a bye through to this stage – at Griffin Park, to be played on Tuesday 24th August.

Brentford’s strikeforce on the night could be made up of two ex-Tigers: Gary Alexander and Nicky Forster joined the Bees this summer. Meanwhile, City’s own new signing, John Bostock, will be returning to familiar ground after spending last season on loan at Brentford.

Since a memorable 2-0 victory lifted City off the foot of the Football League during the ‘Great Escape’ in February 1999, the only more recent visit to Griffin Park was in 2005, a 2-1 end-of-season defeat after promotion had already been secured.

Comment

A cup run this season would be a help to the club’s finances. It is still a good chance to give the young players a first team outing, but it should be taken seriously enough to progress to the next round.

Seyi Olofinjana’s loan move to Cardiff City has gone through.

Both clubs’ official websites confirmed the season-long loan deal this morning.

The Nigeria international midfielder joined the Tigers a year ago, but then made just 11 starts in the Premier League. The highlight was his only goal, the winner against his former team, Stoke. He was an unused substitute for City’s opening day win against Swansea.

The 30-year-old still has three years to run on his contract, making a loan move the only viable way to offload him.

Comment

Olofinjana was one of a number of signings made for questionnably high transfer fees and lengths of contract, in the same month star player Michael Turner was sold. Those players did not deliver and we’ll be paying the price for the relegation they brought about and the deals they’re on for some time.

He was a good player at this level for Wolves but we won’t get to see him replicate that here – until the end of the season when he returns with two years remaining on his contract.

The club’s interest in Arsenal striker Jay Simpson has been confirmed but won’t be taken further until players leave, with Seyi Olofinjana and Caleb Folan linked with moves.

City are one of a number of clubs interested in the £1.2m-rated forward, whom Arsenal will sell before his contract expires next year.

Simpson impressed on loan at Millwall in 2007/08. He made three appearances for Arsenal in the League Cup the following season, scoring twice against Wigan during his only start, before being loaned to West Brom. He scored twice for the Baggies in the Premier League, one of which was against Hull City in the 2-2 draw at the Circle. He spent last season on loan at QPR, scoring 13 goals in all competitions.

Adam Pearson has confirmed City’s interest, but says no signings will be considered before players are moved on.

First to go could be Seyi Olofinjana, with the Hull Daily Mail reporting that he’s gone to Cardiff City on loan. The Bluebirds’ new chairman has promised new signings after their transfer embargo was lifted last month, and Dave Jones saw the best of the Nigeria midfielder whilst at Wolves.

Caleb Folan could also be heading to Wales after being linked with Swansea City. According to the South Wales Evening Post, manager Brendan Rodgers met Folan before Saturday’s game, although the Hull Daily Mail says no official approach has been made. He didn’t play in the game but is understood to be injured, having pulled out of the Republic of Ireland squad this week.

Comment

It seems a waste to lose the two players now we’re playing in a division where the level may suit them, having paid their wages to sit on the bench for so long. However, finances must dictate, so if they will save the club substantial money and cheaper replacements can be found deals will be done.

Simpson doesn’t sound like a budget option, although Pearson only said City are interested in him without mentioning at what price.

New signing John Bostock may be seen at the Circle tomorrow – but vuvuzelas won’t be.

City have confirmed on their official website the signing of 18-year-old Bostock on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs clearly rate him as a prospect for the future having awarded him a new contract today until 2013 before loaning him out to gain experience. No information is given regarding his availability for tomorrow’s first game of the season.

However, the club website does state that vuvuzelas – the monotonous horn heard throughout the World Cup – will not be permitted inside the stadium so that “fans are allowed to generate their own noise”.

Comment

The signing of Bostock is an encouraging sign that progress may have been made on the club’s finances, as well as Hull City being a big enough draw to a highly rated Premier League youngster.

As far as I’m concerned, the news on vuvuzelas is good too. But why stop there? Few people appreciate the racket when someone brings a drum or other instrument to a game, regardless of whether it’s one of your own team’s fans. Get rid of instruments and noise over the PA and allow the supporters to do the supporting.

Jimmy Bullard’s 16th appearance for the club will not be forthcoming on Saturday against Swansea.

Nigel Pearson will leave the £45,000-a-week midfielder out yet again. He hasn’t played since the 0-1 Premier League defeat to Sunderland in April, when he missed a penalty and City were all-but consigned to relegation. He has trained with the City squad after rejecting a move to Celtic last month but hasn’t played a minute of the pre-season schedule of friendlies.

A week ago, Director of Football Operations Adam Pearson said “it will be Nigel’s decision whether to play him or not,” but there has been no explanation for leaving him out at this stage. Adam Pearson also spoke of his hope that a Premier League club would still take him off their hands, and it may be that City wait until the transfer window closes at the end of the month before risking Bullard in competitive action.

Meanwhile, Craig Fagan will miss the Swansea game with a continuing groin injury. That leaves just unorthodox strikers Nick Barmby and Richard Garcia and youngsters Mark Cullen and Nicky Featherstone as options to partner Caleb Folan if Daniel Cousin is to be transferred. Defender Andy Dawson will be fit to play after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Comment

City are not giving much away about Bullard. Last week’s comments about him being available smacked of lip service and that’s proving to be the case. For all his faults and lack of match fitness, Bullard would still be a useful player to have in the matchday squad, so ruling him out two days before the game makes little sense.

I can understand leaving him out to avoid an injury that would scupper a move. While there sounded like little conviction in Adam Pearson’s hope that a Premier League club would take a punt on him, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility, especially as the transfer deadline closes in and other targets are missed.

However, as has also been stated, promotion back to the riches of the Premier League would be of great benefit to solving the club’s debts, so leaving a match-winner out of the team for up to four games until the transfer window closes is a risk too.

Seeing Jimmy Bullard back to playing his best is what we all need, whether that’s to put him in the shop window and get rid of him or to put wins in the bag for Hull City.