High court, high stakes

This has come totally as a bolt out of the blue. A statement from Hull City released today reads thus:

"Hull City Football Club has now issued legal proceedings against Paul Duffen in the High Court.

"This action has been being taken to protect the commercial best interests of the football club against the actions undertaken by Paul Duffen while in office at Hull City."

Well, what a turn up. Duffen's handling of the club's affairs has been severely criticised by Adam Pearson since the switch was made in the chairman's office, and now he is taking it further.

It would be unwise to speculate, but prior to leaving Duffen had two major financial pressures to answer to - agreeing to and revealing no figures within the sale of Michael Turner; and explaining why the club's accounts had not been submitted within the allotted time.

Beyond this, maybe it is an action designed to evoke sympathy from those who decide the punishment handed out to clubs in financial strife. If - and it is a big if - administration is not impossible a scenario, proof that the club is taking action to remedy problems not caused by those currently at the helm may make a ten-point difference.

It proves beyond all doubt, however, that Pearson is yet again giving Hull City every chance to succeed, irrespective of how difficult the decisions required to achieve this may be.