Hull FC were a club ‘left to ruin’ according to Richie Myler, with the CEO speaking in-depth about recruitment and ongoing issues at the Super League club.
Appearing on Sky Sports before the Black and Whites’ clash with Leigh Leopards, Myler gave an honest verdict on plenty of matters about Hull FC with the first of those being the reports that the club have signed Bailey Hodgson for 2027.
On that, he said: “I admire Bailey Hodgson, I think he’s a great player but there’s nothing official for me to confirm or deny.
“Like I say, he’s a great player, he’s lightning quick and someone I admired but no, nothing to tell you.”
In terms of other recruitment plans, Myler admitted that the focus is on signing the right type of people with the current results simply not good enough in 2026.
“We’ve got a new head coach coming in who’s very clear on a directive he wants to go,” Myler said, referencing incoming head coach Steve McNamara.
“We’re underperforming, you can see it. We’ve got a lot of senior players not playing through injury or through form. We know it’s not being good enough but like I say, we’ve got a clear plan that we want to make it right.
“We’re going to look forward to who’s going to add to this group, who are the right characters, who’s the right people to bring into this group.”
Hull FC ‘not ready for Las Vegas’
Having claimed the Black and Whites are ‘underperforming’, Myler spoke on the frustrations of the 2026 season, conceding that addressing issues was like ‘opening Pandora’s bos
On 2026, he said: “Frustrating, very frustrating, because there’s a lot of talent in that team, it’s just not showing itself on a weekly basis. And that’s unfortunate. We’ve had a lot of injuries.
“There’s a lot of things we’ve needed to fix at the club. That’s been the frustrating thing. We’ve unearthed an awful lot. It’s like Pandora’s box sometimes, things keep falling out.
“The investment’s been brilliant from the ownership and they’ve really funded this club and supported it. 18 months ago, we might not have been here, so it’s credit to them that we are still here.
“Like I say, we’ve got a long way to go and there’s a lot of things that we’re doing well, but a lot of things we need to do better.”
The fact that Hull FC are so far off the pace was the reason that Myler gave for why the club are not going to Las Vegas in 2027, as he bluntly admitted: “Well, I don’t think we’re ready to go to Vegas. I love the concept of it. I think it’s a fantastic thing to align ourselves in that competition. I’d love to be a part of it but we’re nowhere near there yet.
“We’ve got so many things we need to fix. Our recruitment’s one, our facilities are another, our infrastructure. We’ve got a lot of things that we want to get right first. We’ll have our time hopefully one day, but it’s not the right time for us to go yet.”
Black and Whites not waiting it out for 2027 as Cartwright exit addressed
After comments on Thursday night from Sam Tomkins that Hull FC were simply in a ‘holding pattern’ and waiting for 2027, Myler had his say as he countered and further explained that recruitment has been quiet of late as he wants additions to be long-term, not simply to plug gaps.
“Definitely not. We’re not in a holding pattern. I know it’s been commented and that’s what the perception looks like but no, not a chance,” Myler responded.
“We’ve got some injuries. We need to get some boys back on the field and we need to look if there’s someone we can bring in that’s going to add to us, not only now, but for next year.
“We don’t just want to bring people in for a short period of time just to plug a gap. We’re going to give some young boys a really good chance tonight who have been chomping at the bit to play. Through form, some people are going to miss out and ultimately, I hope they do well.
“You can see the hunger that they’ve got. Yes, they’re not going to be all there against a very good leaf side who played well last week.”
The CEO also spoke about the much-talked about sacking of John Cartwright as he insisted that the decision was more focused on Steve McNamara’s quality, as opposed to anything that John Cartwright lacked.
He said: “Well, John’s a players coach, and he’s a great guy. He’s come in and he was the right appointment for us at the right time for the club and he worked tirelessly in the way he’s a coach.
“I just think we need a bit more from that group. That group needs to be told a bit more direct and a bit more. It’s not so much what John wasn’t giving, it’s more what I know Steve can give. I’ve worked with Steve before. He’s very meticulous in his planning.
“I think John’s a really good coach. I think he’ll do a tremendous job at Catalan but for us as a club of Hull’s stature, I just felt we needed a bit more. Steve McNamara coming back to Hull is a great story. He’s full of passion and drive and energy. I can see it in him. He’s got a hunger.”
Hull FC owners saved club from going bust in 2025
Myler concluded on the positives that are going on behind the scenes but ultimately admitted that it’s a slow process because of the state that the club was left in.
He explained: “There’s loads of positive things going on. We’re investing in a new training facility. Our training facility hasn’t been adequate enough. That might be down to one of the reasons why we’re having so many injuries and our processes haven’t been right.
“That’s another way of thinking of, I needed a guy to come in who I know is very meticulous and can drive this club to another level, so that’s why we’ve gone for Steve.”
On ownership, he added: “We’ve got great owners that are backing us all the way through. They want to sign the best players and have the best people in this club.
“Hull is a big club, I didn’t realise how big it actually was but ultimately it’s been left to ruin and that’s what it was.
“In February 2025, it would have gone bust for right or wrong or whatever we did to survive, but it would have been gone. So that’s why, ultimately, Andrew and David have saved this club.”
