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Paul Duffen’s Saudi Arabian-financed consortium remain in pole position to take over Hull City, despite facing competition to buy the club.

Former City chairman Duffen is currently leading the race to return to the KCOM Stadium nine years after his acrimonious departure, with a formal bid submitted and due diligence close to completion.

Duffen’s bid is understood to be one of two which has been submitted to City owners Assem and Ehab Allam, however his is the only one believed to be close enough to completion.

Sources have told Hull Live both Assem and Ehab Allam have spoken privately about being gone from the club in a matter of weeks, echoing Duffen’s statement as reported yesterday he was confident of being back in charge before Christmas.

The new owners want as much time as possible to prepare for what could be a crucial January transfer window, given the club’s current precarious position just one place above the Championship’s relegation zone.

The desire for a sale among the club’s supporters was similarly shared by Nigel Adkins, with the head coach admitting a fresh start was needed at the club.

“It’s been hanging over the football club for a few years now,” Adkins said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the club’s trip to Sheffield United tomorrow.

“Even the owner himself has publicly come out and said that he’s looking to sell the club. Ideally, if there is going to be a change it gets done – if anybody wants to have a change, it gets done sooner rather than later.

“I’m sure the owners are doing everything in the best interest for the club to make sure that sustainability is there and the future of the club is good. We have to let them get on with it.

“We all want the stadium to be full and want the team to be playing great football that the supporters are going to go and enjoy, that’s what we want and we have to keep working towards that.”

(Image: HDM)

However, while the takeover talk rumbles on the Tigers currently find themselves one point outside the drop zone and Adkins stressed it will not distract him from his duties as head coach.

Adkins understands the supporters’ gripes with the current ownership, but insists he is focused on attempting to lead City away from the bottom three and climbing the Championship ladder.

“I’ve been in the city since December, I speak to a lot of people and people want change. That is going to take a little time,” he added. “What can I control as a head coach? I need to get the performance to the maximum.

“Time will tell, the future will tell. Supporters talk about concession prices and ticket prices to come and watch the team, I can’t control that.

“I’ve got to try and do everything to keep a team working hard, giving everything they have got, connect to the supporters to keep a smile on everyone’s face through this transitional period.”

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