Hull FC takeover state of play as prospective investor visits training ground

Hull FC are closing in on fresh investment as plans are put in place for what is hoped can be the start of a bright new era.

Current club owner and chairman Adam Pearson has long been in the market for new capital, with Andrew Thirkill the man known to be the investor in the frame. Thirkill, a businessman from Leeds, is regarded as one of the richest people in Yorkshire and has connections with the Black and Whites through director of rugby Richie Myler, who is in a relationship with his daughter.

The rumours around investing in Hull emerged while Thirkill was attached to Leeds Rhinos, where he served as club president for five years. His term at Headingley came to an end last month, though, freeing him up to become the investor Adam Pearson and the Black and Whites have been looking for, and that deal is now believed to be making progress.

Serious About RL understands that Thirkill and another unnamed potential investor visited the club’s training hub at the University of Hull earlier this week, taking a look around Hull’s new facilities and catching a glimpse of pre-season training.

Of course, the Black and Whites started preparations for the upcoming 2025 Super League season this week, with head coach John Cartwright taking his first sessions with his first-team squad. Thirkill will have been an interested spectator, and as the club look ahead to the new season, there is optimism that they can leave last season’s struggles behind them.

Multiple sources have indicated that the parties are close to an agreement and could even be in a position to make an announcement about the proposed takeover as early as next week. Next week is already a big one for the club, with a fans’ forum and a pre-season dinner for supporters and club partners taking place at the MKM Stadium’s Kingston Suite.

The hope is the deal can bring the injection of capital that the club needs to push them back towards the top of the Super League table. The Black and Whites haven’t qualified for the play-offs since 2020, with performances consistently falling short of expectations in recent seasons. And, having finished 10th in 2023 and 11th last season, it’s clear that backing is needed to get the club moving in the right direction once more.

Pearson has owned the club since purchasing the full shareholding in July 2011. In that time he has overseen two Challenge Cup victories, in 2016 and 2017, and for a large chunk of his time at the helm they have competed in the top half of the division. That has looked beyond the Airlie Birds over the last four seasons, though, with Hull FC failing to find significant traction.