Hull FC have confirmed they have been taken over by former Leeds Rhinos president Andrew Thirkill and businessman David Hood.
The Black and Whites suffered an awful Super League campaign in 2024, winning just three of their 27 matches and finishing second bottom, ahead of only relegated London Broncos on points difference.
They also lost their Grade A status.
The club will hope for brighter times under Hood and Thirkill, who was at Leeds from 2018 until October of this year and whose daughter is the partner of Hull FC director of rugby Richie Myler.
Thirkill will replace Adam Pearson as the new club chair, with Hood also joining the board.
“It gives me great pleasure to confirm that I am today handing over custodianship of this great club to such responsible and worthy individuals as Andrew Thirkill and David Hood OBE,” said Pearson.
“I feel incredibly fortunate for them to have agreed to have taken on the responsibility of the future security and prosperity of the club.
“Both have been the ideal purchasers, exemplified throughout a respectful and confidential handover process, which I am pleased to announce has now been finalised.”
Pearson, who has owned Hull FC since 2013, revealed Hood and Thirkill will take no money from the club for a three-year period, including no salary, management fees, loan repayments and interest.
“It should be recognised that the new shareholders have not only undertaken to inject substantial sums of money into the club, but have also agreed to take no monies from the club for at least a three-year period,” he continued.
“Therefore with immediate effect, I am delighted to say that all receipts that come into our club will now be directly benefiting the club, allowing further investment into our playing roster. The club is in a very fortunate position as we look to rebuild.
“I would like to sincerely thank our board members, off-field staff, corporate partners, and our supporters for their incredible support of myself and this great club throughout my ownership across the past 13 years, and I wish the entire club and its personnel every success going forward.”
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining four matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
Source : Sky Sports
