LOKEREN fans will have to entertain themselves in the build-up to the match against Hull City tomorrow.
There will be no official welcome for about 1,400 fans arriving in the city over the next 24 hours.
Hull City supporters were treated to a specially- arranged "fan fest" in Lokeren town centre before last week's first-leg Europa Cup match.
Travelling Tigers fans praised the warm welcome they received in Belgium, which included food and drink stalls being laid on in the main market square as well as DJs playing sets in a large marquee.
Neither Hull City Council nor the Hull Business Improvement District (Bid) have any plans to host a similar "fan fest" in the city, despite the influx of visitors from the continent.
Neil Worner, who runs a rickshaw business in the city centre, said: "Queen Victoria Square would be the ideal place to lay something on for the Lokeren fans.
"If nothing is happening I think it is a missed opportunity," he said.
"A lot of my customers are from the continent and it's important we all do our bit to show off Hull in its best light."
In Lokeren, supporters from the two clubs mingled together, swapped memorabilia and sang each other's songs.
However, the trip was marred for many fans after an outburst of violence triggered by banned Lokeren fans after the game.
Several City fans also blamed the tactics of the Belgian police for the trouble.
Lokeren fans are expected to start arriving in Hull today, however, the majority are likely to arrive tomorrow morning on ferries from Zeebrugge and Rotterdam.
Councillor Terry Geraghty, the portfolio holder for culture, leisure, events and wellbeing, said: "There are no plans to do anything, as far as I am aware.
"Hull City are going to get a decent gate for the match so I think it should be up to them to do something.
"As it is, the council hasn't got any money."
A spokeswoman for Hull BID, the organisation that levies city centre businesses to promote the area, confirmed it had nothing in place for the Lokeren fans.
"The Yum! Food Festival was on when Trencin played in Hull in the last round, but I don't think anything is happening this time," she said.
Last night a spokesman for Hull City said the club was still considering options for entertaining Belgian fans at the KC Stadium.
"There are a few ideas knocking around, it's just a question of whether we can make them work," he said.
Radio Humberside presenter David Burns, who is also the station's Hull City reporter, said: "I think there's a trick being missed here on so many levels.
"We should at least reciprocate the efforts the town of Lokeren made with their mini-fan park and hospitality. "The city has a chance to try and persuade 1,400 visitors to come back in future with their friends and families but is anyone doing anything?
"It didn't have to be anything massive. It just would have been nice to see someone appear to make an effort."
