Hull City's owner has described supporters protesting against his plan to change the name to Hull Tigers as hooligans and warned he will put the club up for sale if the fans do not accept his authority.
In an exclusive interview with the Independent on Sunday, Dr Assem Allam saidhe would not put one more pound into the club if he felt the majority of supporters did not agree with his policies.
Allam added that displaying banners reading "City Till I Die" and "We Are Hull City" distracts the players, prevents other fans watching the game and infringes on the rights of advertisers. The banners are accompanied by chants of "City Till We Die", but Allam said of the perpetrators: "They can die as soon as they want, as long as they leave the club for the majority who just want to watch good football."
Campaign groups opposing the change have peaceably unfurled and displayed banners after 19 minutes at every home game this season. At the previous home match, against Crystal Palace, stewards tried to prevent a banner being displayed before relenting as tempers threatened to rise.
Allam said: "How can you be supporting a club when you distract attention during a game?" He suggested supporters buy advertising space at the stadium instead. But he also made it clear he does not intend to change his controversial plan.
"I'm a simple man. Do they want me to stay? If it's 'No thank you', fine, in 24 hours the club is for sale ... I do not put in one more pound."
A spokesman for campaign group City Till I Die said: "The intemperate suggestion that singing 'City Till I Die' or holding a banner with Hull City's name on it constitutes disorder is ill-informed and unhelpful."
