‘What is going on?!’ – Hull City fans have been left left concerned as the club part ways with vice-chairman Tan Kesler.
Kesler is described to have been Acun Ilicali’s right-hand man when the takeover happened in 2022, before becoming vice-chairman to Ilicali, having originally expected to be director of football.
Kesler then dealt with transfer activity and day-to-day running of the club while also earning a place on the EFL board in 2024.
A very brief statement was issued: “Hull City can confirm that we have parted ways with Executive Vice-Chairman, Tan Kesler, by mutual consent.
“We wish Tan the best for the future and will provide supporters with a further update in due course.”
“Following his departure from Hull City, Tan Kesler will also vacate his position on the EFL Board of Directors in accordance with the League’s Articles of Association. Championship Clubs will appoint a successor in due course,” the EFL said to Hull Live in a statement.
Hull City can confirm that we have parted ways with Executive Vice-Chairman, Tan Kesler, by mutual consent.
We wish Tan the best for the future and will provide supporters with a further update in due course.#hcafc
— Hull City (@HullCity) October 17, 2024
BBC Radio Humberside Sport gave their reaction…
“No flowers, no frills, no messing around with that statement. They’ve just put that out in the last few minutes. Its probably safe to say this is going to surprise a lot of people.
“It surprised me. No one’s seen this coming. Tan was very much Agin Ilia’s right hand man. He was there from the start when. When he came in and bought the club, was influential in getting that through. He’s been a big part of the development of the club since Acun took over as owner of the football club.
“It will surprise a lot of people. What’s caused it, what’s behind it. A lot of. Well, it may never come out. There may be nothing. It might be, you know, you just look at the shortness of the statement, you say something gone on. Has there been a fallout? There’ll be lots of speculation, lots of conjecture, but ultimately it is going to surprise a lot of people. This one, I think.
“Honestly, I guess this is some news that nobody saw coming, but a change in management only so much into the season. What can that do to the focus of the football team?
“I suppose when you ask football clubs and sports teams about, when you ask them questions like that, you know, the stock answer, the very media trained answer is, it won’t affect anything. We go about business, we focus on playing games, winning games, etc.
“I think it will send a few shockwaves through the club because, as I said, he’s been such a prominent part of that football club for. Well, we’ll be getting on for three years in January.
“He was there right at the start, as I mentioned earlier, he was very much Acun’s right hand man. He had those contacts and the experience within football as well, because prior to that, he had been kind of on the other side of it.
“I would say, in this respect, that he was a football agent. So he knew about the wheeling and dealing side of football, about getting players into clubs and that side of it. They’ve had some big hits with that recruitment side of it. They’ve had some misses as well, but I think that’s standard with any football club.
“So as far as the impact, I don’t know. I mean, they’ll have a bigger plan, I would imagine, or a plan, you would hope, if they haven’t. That would be a worry for fans that, you know, if this has been done and there’s no sort of backup plan In there, it might be brought about by something that’s caught them by surprise and they’ve had to make this move.
“As I said, at the moment, this is all very fresh and raw. Not even had a chance, really to speak to any of the key players. We wanted to make sure we were reporting and getting out there what’s been announced after that, it’s sort of going to be trying to speak to people.
“I’ll try and get in touch with Tan today, see if he’ll talk. He might be keeping a very low profile at the moment. I doubt the club are going to say very much based on how short that statement is anyway.
“But, yeah, big news just as we get towards the end of the international break. City back in action this Sunday, and all of a sudden the talk’s not going to be about football necessarily. It’s going to be about off the field matters and Tan Kesler leaving the club today.
🗣️ “no flowers, no frills, with that statement”
ℹ️ @RadioHumberside sports editor @mikewhitesport digests Hull City vice-chair Tan Kesler’s immediate departure#hcafc | #BBCFootball
— BBC Humberside Sport (@HumbersideSport) October 17, 2024
As mentioned, Hull fans have been left concerned as the club part ways with vice-chairman Tan Kesler…
@Old_GrandpaJoe: WHAT. That’s awfully vague. #hcafc
@TigerDor: Good grief no! You couldn’t make it up. I am very worried now.
@KurtJohansson_: Did not see this coming. I thought Tan was one of the positive things about Hull City and did a lot of the running and PR work. Be interesting to see why this has happened and who’ll be in to replace. #HCAFC
@jasonferraby: Team building went well last week….
@Carlwilks2011: Now I’m very worried, he always steered us in the right direction. Very disappointing, what on earth has happened 😪 #hcafc
@HCSStweets: Sad to see this. Tan has done many, many good things in his time at City. There will of course speculation about why this has happened but for now all that we can really say is thanks for all you’ve done
@TanKeslerHCAFC
@JohnAcko1985: Well that’s my day ruined, love that man. All the best for the future Tan
@RP2218: What!! Love the guy, clearly a big part of what goes on behind the scenes too.
@LennonWallis: Something seems off about this #hcafc
@DanLittle180: #hcafc staff quickly arranging a Evening with Aćun
@DannyWarneck: Out of everyone who’s left the club since the end of last season this one is going to be noticed the most!!
@HullCityItalian: Never dull in Hull… all the best Tan and thank you for what you’ve done for the club 🐯
@HxpzHCAFC: If I see a statement that says anything about different ambitions and goals then I’m calling it bullshit. No way this man just decides to leave over night… somethings happening and it feels like we are sinking backing into the Allams mentality
@Myers__1983: Hope the next step isn’t Acun puts the club up for sale 🤷♂️
@john_s_cothill: Who’s going to push the fire alarm button now? 🥲 All the bests Tan.
@mikwa79: Shame, he’s represented the club and fans brilliantly. Short but sweet statement
@croupier80: Bring someone in with ENGLISH FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE and everything will be fine #TrustTheProcess #hcafc
@1280Sue: Gutted and now worried, he was the glue of the club. A lovely fella who worked day and night for Hull City.
@HarryBulleyment: WOW 😳 Where’s that come from!
@JeffCunny: I can see another Q and A coming on ! 😳
@TomButl55445942: This is going to put a big strain on the relationship with the fans and the club
@robincharlesw67: The voice of reason has gone
@LukeWomack21: Oh wow 🤦♂️ I hope this was Tans decision and not been forced out by the club as Tan pretty much ran the club.
@Anthony09487280: Something too fishy about this.
@MattyHC5: One normal day of hull city is all i ask. This club is just on another level of chaos #hcafc
@NigelBrice64: What on earth
@hbotterill19: WHAT THE
@SBHcafc: Something big has happened, a massive fall out now. This is not looking good
@joel_robin5on: That statement isn’t good enough, what’s going on?
@tonytiger67: Feel like pure shit, just want Ken Tasler back #hcafc
— Simon Watts 🖤🇹🇷🧡 (@SimonWattsHull) October 17, 2024
@TanKeslerHCAFC just wanted to say thank you,Tan,for everything you did for us at Hull City. You will be sorely missed. You always spoke very well and honestly with the fans. As a City fan we are very concerned now for the club. I wish you the very best for the future👏 #hcafc pic.twitter.com/lyLgh2pzv1
— Carl (@Carlwilks2011) October 17, 2024
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