Hull KR shamed into U-turn after fan backlash over controversial partners

Hull KR have incredibly ended their multi-year deal with ‘Platinum Partners’ P&O Ferries after immense fan backlash.

The Robins had a brilliant win on Saturday and it looked like fans might have shortly forgotten about the controversial deal, but instead Hull KR took the bold decision to announce that they had ended the partnership, making it an even better Saturday for plenty of the fans.

Whilst some had been positive about the finances coming into the club, the vast majority of fans had questioned the morals and integrity of the club regarding the deal.

Hull is a city with a deep history of seafaring and P&O Ferries have garnered a terrible reputation in the city after they cut 800 jobs via text during the pandemic in order to recruit cheaper overseas labour.

Many of those who lost their jobs hailed from Hull which is what saw fans question how the dealmakers at Hull KR failed to gauge public opinion when committing to the deal.

The RMT, the biggest union for the travel industry, were one of the bigger voices to condemn the deal as they told Hull KR that they should “hang their heads in shame” whilst calling for an end to the partnership.

That has now happened with Hull KR providing a statement reflecting on the deal.

Hull KR “underestimated the continuing depth of feeling” towards controversial company

In a statement posted within half an hour of yesterday’s brilliant 40-20 victory over St Helens, Hull KR got even more fans back onside by announcing that they would be ending their new partnership.

It meant that the deal with P&O Ferries was in place for just 31 hours before it’s termination, potentially a record for the shortest sponsorship of a Super League side.

Hull KR posted the following statement on their website: “We entered a partnership with P&O Ferries in good faith, aware of their desire to contribute to the city of Hull.

“The partnership was designed to support many local grass roots activities, as part of extensive community programmes, and complementary to a much bigger and exciting project the club is working on ahead of 2025.

“Two years after the P&O Ferries business restructure, we had underestimated the continuing depth of feeling that remains in some parts of our community.

“Since the announcement, we have engaged with supporters, stakeholders and East Hull MP Karl Turner.

“As an East Hull institution looking to stay true to its Values, it’s important to us that our community know we will always try to do the right thing and to represent them in the best way possible.

“Therefore, Hull KR have decided at this time it is inappropriate to continue with this partnership.”

It is very commendable that Hull KR have listened to their fans and acted so swiftly with the decision to end the deal meaning that they potentially sacrificed a good chunk of money, however, they’ve deemed their values and community more important.

Despite that, it begs the question of how they could get it so wrong in the first place with the initial deal labelled as an act of “sports-washing” by the RMT.