STEVE Bruce's management "expertise" can inspire Hull City to upset the odds again in the Premier League, according to managing director Nick Thompson.
Ahead of their first top-flight campaign since relegation in 2010, the Tigers have already been installed as one of the favourites for an instant Championship return.
As with all newly-promoted sides, the underdog tag will be worn by City throughout the new Premier League return.
But building on the success of Bruce's first campaign at the KC Stadium, where he earned City's highest-ever finish outside of the top flight, Thompson is certain survival is not beyond the Tigers.
"We'll compete by doing what we do well," he said.
"If you go back to the start of last season there was a survey that said 70 per cent of fans thought we would finish mid-table. The owners' instructions to Steve, meanwhile, were to get into the play-offs.
"We've out-performed on both of those expectations and we've done it by using Steve's expertise.
"We've put together a great squad, retained confidence and achieved something beyond everyone's expectations.
"We have to ensure next season is done in the same way. Be professional, bring in some additional quality and produce our best on the pitch."
As well as mouth-watering dates with English football's elite next season, the impact of promotion has also been felt in the club's revenue streams.
Season ticket sales are currently around the 15,500 mark after returning to general sale 10 days ago and sell-out crowds will be expected for the majority of fixtures at the KC.
Compared with the club's average gate of 17,369 during the Championship promotion season, that equates to an additional match-day income of between £2m and £3m over the course of the campaign.
"Within the club we've opened the second phase of season tickets and we're in the process of renewing boxes and corporate packages, so the preparation for the Premier League really does span the whole club," added Thompson.
"We're around 15,500 at the moment and we'd expect that figure to rise with people getting paid at the end of the month or the fixture list coming out.
"By the end of July we'll look to wrap it up and if we got to somewhere like 17,500 to 18,000 that would be probably be the upper limit of what we're looking to sell.
"We want to have a figure on general sale for each game but hopefully we'll be seeing a full stadium for every game."• City will hope to launch their new home and away strip in mid-July, although it is still unconfirmed at this stage.
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