STEVE Bruce has been given the green light to strengthen his Hull City squad next month, with vice chairman Ehab Allam vowing to provide his "full support" during the January transfer window.
As the halfway mark of the season approaches with the Tigers fourth in the Championship, Bruce has quickly justified his summer appointment by laying the foundations for a promotion push back to the Premier League.
Despite a fruitful run of eight wins from the last 12 league games, the City boss remains keen to inject fresh impetus into his high-flying squad when the transfer window opens in 20 days' time.
And after staging preliminary discussions with the Tigers' board in recent weeks, Bruce has been told he can look forward to bolstering his ranks in the new year.
"We've had discussions with Steve with a view to January and we have an idea of what our requirements are," Ehab Allam told the Mail.
"We will be looking to give Steve our full support in the transfer window to give us that final push.
"We have every confidence in Steve. He's proved himself as a top quality manager and we'll be supporting him the way he sees fit.
"I've never divulged specific figures during our time here, but you have to give yourself every opportunity. If you're sitting 10th or 12th then you may just sit tight but when you're in this position, however difficult the finances may be, you have to give yourself every chance of success. It would be a wasted opportunity not to."
A lack of activity during the January window saw City pay a heavy price last season, when only Vito Mannone and Josh King, signed on loan from Arsenal and Manchester United respectively, arrived at the KC Stadium.
City's caution was eventually undermined when injuries and fatigue took their toll in the final quarter of the campaign and famously engendered a fractious relationship between former boss Nick Barmby and the club's owners.
Following on from Barmby's acrimonious sacking in May, when the fans' favourite was deemed to have questioned the club's approach, the City board insisted significant funds had been available to recruit a Premier League striker on loan in January.
Allam says the same financial support will be afforded to Bruce and believes City must look to capitalise on their golden opportunities this time around.
"I don't see January being any different to us being in a similar position last year," he explained.
"When you're in a strong position and contenders for the top six, you'd be crazy not to try to capitalise on that for a short period of time.
"When you look at it being a window of opportunity, why wouldn't you want to capitalise? There's no difference to last year in that respect."
City's anticipated show of ambition in the new year will also be extended to the retention of their prized assets.
James Chester has been linked with a £1.5m move to Aston Villa in January, but Allam is determined not to alter the Tigers' policy of rebuffing all advances.
"Out stance of holding on to our best players has not changed," he added.
"Our intention has always been to retain our best players."
