MORE than 1,800 people have signed a petition calling for the rebranding of Hull City AFC to be reversed.
The Tigers' owners Assem and Ehab Allam say changing the name to Hull City Tigers – and Hull Tigers internationally – will help widen the club's global appeal.
However, many fans have reacted angrily to the change, saying the name "Hull City AFC" has been with the club since 1904.
Tigers fan Joe Lynch, who has launched the online petition, wrote: "This is a disgraceful move that has garnered ridicule and disapproval from all sectors of the footballing world.
"Fans of opposing teams have been quick to mock the club and its fans, while others have been more sympathetic, expressing their own personal distaste in line with the opinion of a large segment of Hull City fans."
Addressing the Allams, he wrote: "This rebranding is wrong. It should be reversed. If it were to be, your willingness to consider the opinions of the fans that have made this club what it is today would be respected by all."
At Andy Dawson's testimonial match at the KC Stadium on Saturday, the rebranding was a hot topic of debate.
There were no protests in the stadium, where fans watched the Tigers beat Real Betis 3-0.
But Mark Pashley, 39, of west Hull, said: "I'm a bit disappointed we are losing the AFC, and Hull City Tigers does sound a bit Americanised.
"But, having said that, I trust the Allams. Everything they've said they would deliver, they have delivered."
A poll on the Mail's website attracted almost 3,700 votes in just a few hours, with 78 per cent in favour of keeping the Hull City AFC name. Mark Watts, 39, of west Hull, who runs West Hull Warriors under-11 football team, said: "It could be revolutionary and could make the club more brandable and more appealing."
When asked what he refers to Hull City as, Mr Watts's three-year-old son, Sam, said: "The Tigers."
The club released a statement saying the business name at Companies House had its "Association Football Club" suffix removed in the spring of this year, leaving the club to be named "Hull City Tigers Ltd".
This will now be used in official club statements, regarding any of our commercial operations.
Also commenting on the name change was one of Hull's most famous sons, the actor Sir Tom Courtenay.
He told The Independent newspaper: "This is such a special case that whatever Assem Allam wants to do is fine by me.
"I don't mind the name change to the Tigers. For me the bottom line is whatever he says, goes.
"Assem saved the club and he made his money in Hull.
"He's unique among the foreign owners because he's doing this for the city.
"I go with Assem. He's clearly shown his ability and his love for Hull and not many people have done that.
"He got Steve Bruce and got them into the Premier League and this time it will be economically viable."
Visit www.change.org and search for Hull City to view the petition against the rebrand.
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