TIGERS ROAR IN!

HIGH-FLYING Hull City are finalising arrangements to visit Bahrain in the New Year during the club's dream first season in the top flight of English football.

The full first team squad and senior management will fly out of London's Heathrow Airport and arrive in the kingdom just the day after they face title contenders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The charismatic club from the English north-east city of Kingston-upon-Hull held league leaders Liverpool to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield at the weekend and are just four points off a Champions League 'top four' league position themselves.

The Premiership will be taking a break during February to allow for players to be released for international World Cup duty.

Andy Dawson, Hull City's commercial director, said: "We are still intending on coming to Bahrain arriving in the early hours on February 8 and departing for the UK on February 12. I am just in the process of confirming arrangements.

"We went to Dubai last year, which was hugely successful and offered superb training and sporting facilities. We have received an offer from them to go again but are keen to follow up our interest in Bahrain first."

Dawson plans to visit Bahrain in January to personally handle any final details and commercial tie-ups following a trip to the kingdom in October with Hull City's chairman Paul Duffen and manager Phil Brown to inspect potential warm weather training facilities and hotels.

Duffen told GulfWeekly: "The intention of our visit was to explore the possibility of forging closer links with the kingdom.

"We were very impressed with what we saw and particularly with the warm reception we received from the Bahrain Football Association and the Olympic Committee.

"I believe that Bahrain would make an ideal venue for a warm weather training break as it has the perfect climate and provides a relaxed atmosphere with excellent facilities."

The visit may include local coaching in the community in a similar style to the recent successful sessions held by coaches from Queen Park Rangers - the Championship side sponsored by national carrier Gulf Air.

There may be a 'light training game' with league champions and AFC Cup holders Muharraq and support given to other local initiatives.

Hull City play in one of the newest stadiums in the UK and ground experts may also be able to offer advice to stadia officials on how to improve facilities here.

Moreover, the club will promote the key 'business friendly Bahrain' messages from the Bahrain Economic Development Board, and Bahrain itself, through its vast number of communication channels.

Hull City players and officials are likely to stay at the Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa.

The club's current rise to the top echelons of English football reads like a fairytale. It was such a different story 10 years ago when Hull City sat in 92nd position in the football league, were officially the worst team in the country and facing oblivion.

Fans living in Bahrain are hoping to arrange sponsored transportation around the island, a fun outing to the BIC's Hummer driving course and a charity sporting dinner.

Nicknamed the Tigers, Hull City play Sunderland at the KC Stadium this Saturday and have invited GulfWeekly Editor Stan Szecowka to attend the match as a guest of the club.

Sunderland are another Premiership side who have been looking at the facilities in Bahrain in recent months.