Beware Success- It Could Cost You Your Job

On May 24th 2008, Hull City beat Bristol City in the Championship Play Off Final at Wembley, winning the richest game in world football, guaranteeing a minimum income of £60m over the next three years, through promotion to the Premier League.

Prior to this game, Hull held the unenviable title of 'the biggest city in Britain never to have played top flight football', though not the biggest in Europe, as was often reported.  

It was a quite fantastic performance, from a team that had already gained two promotions in the previous four years, moving them from the bottom of the football league, into the promised land. On that day, the players became instant heroes, to the 45,000 Hull fans at Wembley, to the 350,000 fans watching in pubs and homes back in East Yorkshire, they even won the hearts of many millions of neutrals, watching all over the world.

Those heroes could not have know then, that their performances that day, had taken them into a league, that they would be deemed not good enough to play in.

The main hero that day was Dean Windass, a 39 year old Hull born lad, playing for the club he loved. Already a legend at the club, he'd been sold in 1995 to save the club from going into administration, he was brought back on loan to rescue Hull from relegation in the 2006/7 season and then re signed permanently in 2007, going on to score the winning goal at Wembley.He will always be remembered as a legend, but since gaining promotion, he's played only 27 minutes in our opening twelve games and it looks like he will not remain a City player much longer.

Also instrumental in the promotion season was centre back Wayne Brown, a hard working, committed and very vocal defender, he marshaled the defense all season and played a large part in the successful campaign. He's appeared only once for Hull City in the Premier League, he will not appear for them again. Despite his fantastic performances in the Championship, he's too slow and too small for the Premier League. He's now on loan at Preston North End, in the Championship, where he will probably sign a permanent deal in January, he's a fans favorite there already, which is no surprise.

Jay Jay Okocha, one of the most talented players the world has ever seen, was released by the club shortly after the game, as was Danish International Henrik Pedersen.

Some players, such as Bo Myhill, Michael Turner, Andy Dawson, Ian Ashbee, Craig Fagan and Dean Marney have raised their games for the Premier League, quite amazing when you consider that three of those players also played for City in the bottom league. Ian Ashbee is, in fact, the first player ever to Captain one football club in all four divisions.

Twelve players were bought by Hull City in the transfer window, more than any other club, in an attempt to make sure that Hull City were competitive in their first ever Premier League campaign.

They are competative, they are actually very competative and are currently sitting sixth in the league. It looks like the decisions made have been the right ones. Though if you were one of the ten players who featured for Hull City in the last campaign, but who has now been released, loaned out, or has been dropped to the bench, you might see things slightly differently.

To those players, I say thank you, you will always be remembered as heroes at Hull City AFC, but now it's time for new heroes. Success may have cost several players their jobs at Hull City, but at least it has gained them immortality in the hearts of the Tiger Nation.