Hull FC will not be able to open the West Stand Upper tier for the Hull derby, the club revealed yesterday.
That’s down to the fact that there is a lack of casual match day personnel required to staff both catering and stewarding operations in what will be the biggest game of both sides’ seasons so far.
But, in what is probably one of the most anticipated derby games for a while, social media has reacted quite sharply to the news.
One Hull FC fan called it “a mess”.
@EmmaHardyMP surely its time as the Labout MP for West Hull you stepped in and sorted this mess out… This was a stadium built for both clubs and for the community, not one dictatorship of an owner.. Its time for an independant run SMC
— colin wooldridge (@colinwooldridge) August 17, 2021
That sentiment of getting the Member of Parliament for Kingston-upon-Hull and Hessle involved was echoed by others.
@EmmaHardyMP @DianaJohnsonMP Any chance one of you could intervene. Maybe it’s time @HullCityCouncil took back control. This is supposed to be a community stadium but yet they cannot open it up for the biggest game of the season
— Karen 🇮🇪⚫️⚪️ (@karenjellis) August 17, 2021
Another called the decision by the Stadium Management Company (SMC) to release the news now too late.
I'm guessing the SMC have known for quite some time that they couldn't open the West Upper due to staffing issues, so why wait until now to announce the fact. Why was it not mentioned from the outset?
— Smiggs (@RockfordFld) August 17, 2021
The SMC also came under fire from others.
Disgraceful from SMC. They are not fit for purpose. Or at least those that run it. We should be able to have the whole stadium every game. SMC should be independent of either club. This bias from them is plain for all to see.
— Mark Stephenson (@Airlybird) August 17, 2021
Someone felt that football wouldn’t have been treated the same way.
Can't imagine this happening if City were playing Man Utd in the PL this weekend
— John Allison (@scumfc1005) August 17, 2021
Another believed that section of the ground wouldn’t have been open anyway due to attendance issues.
https://twitter.com/Deoxyribo87/status/1427698192456507407?s=20
Another called for the SMC to step up.
Casual workforce, eh? SMT need to issue proper contracts.
— Mike Lammiman (@michaellammiman) August 17, 2021
Another called it a “joke”.
What a joke
— Hull FC Fanpage_ (@Hullfcfanpage_) August 17, 2021
A Castleford fan waded into the argument.
Give me our little shitty ground, which we own, with its great atmosphere and that’s just the right size for us any day. https://t.co/eSsxXJcFZn
— Fatboy_Rob (@Fatboy_Rob) August 17, 2021
One Toronto fan believed the atmosphere wouldn’t be affected anyway.
That’s a shame..but I’m sure the fans at the stadium will create an awesome atmosphere https://t.co/yGo0cqONsW
— Sandy Domingos-Shipley ❤️🇨🇦 (@SandyDShipley) August 17, 2021
Another bemoaned the excuse given by the SMC.
Eh? A lack of casual staff in a city with higher than average unemployment. Couldn’t make it up. https://t.co/QtXlAu8FL9
— angus young (@angus_young61) August 17, 2021