PAUL Duffen last night launched a resolute defence of his tenure as Hull City chairman, denying any wrong-doing during his controversial two and a half years at the KC Stadium.
Although Duffen was the chairman famous for guiding the Tigers into the Premier League with a historic first promotion through the Championship play-off final at Wembley in 2008, his reign ended under a cloud when departing East Yorkshire 16 months later.
Legal action launched against Duffen by City in the High Court in January 2010, alleged he used money for his own personal use and that his company received payments from agents in return for using those agents to deal with transfers.
Duffen denied those charges from the outset but the action was only dropped when he and City, led by then owner Russell Bartlett, agreed an out-of-court settlement in February 2010.
Three years on from that resolution Duffen has been invited back into the City fold by current owners the Allam family to "assist" in matters relating to historic financial issues.
In an interview with BBC Radio Humberside, Duffen believed his recent reintegration should stand as proof of his innocence.
"When the Allam family came in and bought Hull City they walked into a financial ambush to the extent that they had agreed a set of parameters they thought they were inheriting," he said.
"When they opened the door to the treasury, they found it was much, much worse. To their eternal credit they stepped up and financed the club. I don't think anyone would be surprised to find they used extensive resources, lawyers, accountants to understand how on earth they were now in a position they were.
"Clearly as part of that backdrop they heard all the urban myths about my role in the financial misfortunes of the club and they were concerned about where that sat.
"The outcome of that situation is that they've completely embraced me, making it quite clear I am a friend of the football club.
"I don't think anyone would think that would be the course of action if they thought I had taken one penny from this club."
One part of the legal action taken against Duffen focused upon use of a company credit card, but he stressed a £1m bonus owed to him by City following promotion in the summer of 2008 explained the expenses on "personal items."
Asked if he had ever stolen money from the club, he said: "The answer is clearly and emphatically no.
"I never had any ability to. The only instrument I had to do that was my company credit card.
"In the application for the freezing order against me there was some creative narrative.
"When we were promoted in 2008 my contract entitled me to an eye-watering bonus, seven figures.
"The club wasn't able to pay me the bonus until the money from the Premier League came in August but my contract said I was entitled to that within two weeks.
"The club was in breach of contract so during the summer, when we had a party planned for my 50th birthday in the south of France, I would use the company credit card.
"That was agreed to account for certain expenses until I was paid my bonus. The club owed me money.
"That meant my company credit card was used for all sorts of expenses. I took my wife to New York, brought some jewellery, I paid an expensive hotel bill in the south of France, all agreed.
"When they presented this litany to the judge, they presented my company credit card statement only showing the money spent on personal items."
Although Duffen's departure in October 2009 preceded City's dramatic descent into financial trouble, much of the blame has been levelled at a perceived mismanagement during his time at the KC Stadium, most notably a £5m transfer for Jimmy Bullard.
Duffen distanced himself from any financial culpability and said: "I didn't secure the finances of the football club. I never wrote a cheque the whole time I was at the football club.
"I was a second signatory on a cheque-book. I had no influence to arrange finance, incur debt or arrange mortgage funds. I was running the business, I was not financing the business.
"That's why, at every stage, the board of directors approved everything that happened."
Successor as City chairman, Adam Pearson declined to comment on last night's revelations but Bartlett fought back with accusations of his own.
In reactionary statements the former owner claimed Duffen made "unilateral decisions, including a commitment to sign a player for 3milion Euros, without his knowledge or consent."
As well as claims of handing an extended deal to a player who had a serious injury at the time, believed to be former captain Ian Ashbee, Bartlett also said Duffen "exceeded his responsibility when signing Jimmy Bullard to a four-year contract when Bartlett claimed he had sanctioned a three-year, and contracted the player to more money per week than agreed."
Bartlett claimed those actions formed the basis for action against Duffen in the High Court.
Current vice chairman Ehab Allam also released a statement outlining Duffen's involvement with the club over the last six months.
It read: "We have recently been working with the Inland Revenue to clarify some historic tax enquiries which date from before we bought Hull Tigers, and we are grateful to Paul Duffen for his assistance with this matter. His input has enabled us to resolve the situation successfully and to the satisfaction of all parties.
"Mr Duffen is also continuing to assist us with our dispute with the bank regarding an outstanding mortgage on the leasehold of the KC Stadium which we inherited when we bought the club. We value his continued input in relation to this issue."
When asked if he had plans for future involvement with the Tigers, Duffen said: "I'm not involved in the structure. There's no formal relationship at this moment in time."
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