Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler admits MKM Stadium development project frustration

Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler has admitted his frustration at the lack of progress being made with Hull City Council over the club's ongoing ambition to develop the area around the MKM Stadium site.

City's ambitious owner Acun Ilicali wants to create a new academy training centre on the site of the current stadium which opened in 2002, whilst also improving the current stadium and potentially increasing capacity at the 25,600-seater venue, as Hull Live exclusively revealed 12 months ago.

Despite their promotions to the Premier League earlier this century, the Tigers' training complex at Cottingham lacked investment under previous ownerships, while the club's academy continues to operate out of Bishop Burton College, and Ilicali wants to create a state-of-the-art environment for the club, one capable of carrying it into the future.

READ MORE: Hull City boss Liam Rosenior makes FFP point after Tigers' mega January transfer spree

Those hopes are yet to be realised with the club becoming increasingly frustrated with the situation, and speaking publicly about where things stand, Kesler explained his frustration during the 1904 Club podcast at a sold-out New Walton Club.

"I have some fans who are here (in the audience) who I've openly spoken to about the stadium development in my office, invited them, and asked for their expertise and knowledge, their support and many businessmen in this city. I said just come on, let's just develop this area and not only for football but for everyone, for the community," City's vice-chairman said.

"Look, everybody's trying, but how much you're trying is my problem. We are competing, we're trying to do everything to compete with the top teams on the football side, coming back to the development side, we're looking to develop a stadium and the development project is more or less anywhere from £24 million to £32 million (in cost).

"You are basically looking at a new stadium, and chairman and I, we don't want to use our resources here while we're just losing our competitiveness. We had a brilliant project and then we proposed it to the city council and everybody else (things have not progressed). I believe we had (council) elections and a lot of changes and losses and all that stuff, but I'm quite lost at the moment. To answer that question, I'm a little bit discouraged.

"Why? Because the fair (Hull Fair) is an issue. Being able to give us an additional piece of land is an issue also, giving us the long term lease of the stadium is an issue. So all these are an issue and it's not being resolved by the city (council) and (the council) expected us to bring in that kind of investment on the table and just build it and also expected to be part of it.

"So, to be honest with you, it's on the city (council) side (to move it forward). I'm not going, from that moment, if I don't see any proactive approach by the city council, we're not going to do anything because we're fine.

"The stadium leases for another 30 years, we're not going anywhere in 30 years. If we're here, we'll build another stadium, maybe. I don't know when, but a couple of times promotion can give us an opportunity to do something on a bigger magnitude, but at the moment I'm discouraged, I have to share this with you.

"It's not about the tiredness of the transfer window. It's about the movement of the city council. A positive approach is always there, but (not) proactive, not being able to (have a) proactive approach hurts me a little bit. From our end, it's going to delay, we're going to just maybe forget about it for a couple more years until we promote."

Owing to the limited space at Millhouse Woods Lane, City have tried to make improvements within the limited footprint of the existing site, while also approaching Yorkshire Water about potentially acquiring some of their land from the water treatment works, talks which have so far not yielded success.

"We've just built a new dressing room, it's state of art, in my opinion given the narrow space," Kesler continued. "We've asked for additional space from the water company who is our neighbour, but it just didn't work out that way. I mean, we're willing to do things to improve the facilities and sports in the city.

"I can guarantee that we're willing, we're trying, but we want to see some positive approach from the stakeholders as well. I'm sharing with you guys because you are the supporters of the club and you are influential in every other way. So we need your help as well. Maybe when the time comes,

"The new locker room has been set, it cost us a lot of money, but at the same time, it's proof that we're trying to show these top-level players that what you're coming into here, you're not just coming into a regular Championship club, you're coming into a state of art the facility. It's just started now and I think we will continue to build. There are many things to do but one of the successes I can say is the dressing room."