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The
perpetrators of this fanzine have asked me to write some comments
about Adam Pearson. “What are we getting?” they ask. I suppose
they’re after some “hot” info from a contact “on the inside” but I’m
not sure they’ll get that as it would be difficult to find any Hull
City fan who doesn’t view Adam through some kind of rosy hued
spectacles.
The reason is
simple. In 2001, Hull City were morally, spiritually and financially
bankrupt, run by a bunch of Sheffield businessmen including the
infamous Stephen Hinchcliffe, a man who has since served two jail
terms. Enter Pearson, looking for his own club after building a
reputation as financial director with Leeds United.
To say that
our rescue from impending oblivion was a one man show isn’t fair on
all those others involved, but his vision and commitment focussed
the effort. To cut the long story short, six years later Pearson
exits with several million quid in his pocket and, I’d like to
think, a tear in his eye. We are left with two promotions, a decent
ground and a bright future under Phil Brown.
An aside -
yes friends, we like Phil Brown. Well most of us do. Ok he’s made
mistakes but learns from most of them. I just wish he’d stop wearing
tan shoes with a grey suit.
But back to
Pearson – what do you get?
Firstly,
you’ll get a businessman who also knows football. He bought us not
on some “Save the Tigers” crusade but because he saw that he could
turn our potential into a successful business – quite apart from
success on the field we’ve also made a profit four years running.
 Secondly,
I think you’ll get someone prepared for a long haul. Pearson loves
to be involved – that’s why he’s back running a club in a much
shorter time than I’d imagined. I’d be surprised if he just brought
in new investors and then scarpered.
Thirdly, by
modern standards, he’s interested in the fans and what they think.
Here, we had regular Fan’s Forums and a Fan’s Liaison Committee both
of which had pretty open agendas.
Fourthly, and
again by modern standards, I think he’s honest. It wouldn’t be a
surprise in later years to find him in some kind of ‘running
football’ position.
So there you
go. A top bloke and I wish him every success. Just watch the
reception he’ll get back at the KC next season (fair comment?).
One last word
– Pearson lives in Harrogate in what appears to be some kind of
football ghetto. Amongst his neighbours are Mick McCarthy and Danny
Mills. I’m off to start the rumours….. |
