Hull City are preparing for the wealthiest game in club sport, having advanced to the 2025/26 Championship play-off final with a 2-0 second leg and aggregate win against Millwall.

Many outside the MKM Stadium predicted that the Tigers would be relegated after signing Sergej Jakirovic on a two-year contract in June, only to be slammed with a two-window transfer cost limit a month later.

However, the Bosnian’s newly constructed squad has overcome all skepticism and on- and off-field challenges to reach Wembley Stadium for the first time in ten years.

Mohamed Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt were the semi-final heroes at The Den, scoring late goals in front of 2,174 travelling City fans, while the rest of Jakirovic’s team, including the 49-year-old, were serenaded long after the final whistle blew in SE16.

After a period of rest and recuperation, it was reported that City’s first-team squad had reconvened at their Mill House Woods Lane training base in nearby Cottingham to begin preparations, but they had been hampered by the ongoing spygate saga, which had continued following the other semi-finals involving Southampton and Middlesbrough.

Phil Brown’s thoughts on how the Southampton and Middlesbrough saga affects Hull City’s play-off final preparation.

The spygate allegations have dominated many discussions in the football world over the last week, after it was revealed that a Southampton intern analyst had photographed and recorded Middlesbrough training sessions at Rockliffe Park leading up to the goalless first leg at the Riverside Stadium.

The Saints won their home leg at St Mary’s 2-1, 24 hours after City defeated the Lions, with Ross Stewart and Shea Charles canceling out Riley McGree’s fifth-minute goal.

However, Tonda Eckert walked out of a second press conference after being questioned further about the situation, before photos of the accused intern surfaced.

The EFL has since stated that an independent disciplinary commission, consisting solely of Southampton, will meet on or before Tuesday, May 19th, four days before the final, despite the fact that both Hull and Southampton have launched ticket sales.

Eight days will have passed since Hull secured their place in North London, and a kick-off time of 4:30PM on May 23rd is still marked with a’subject to change’ condition due to the likely conclusion of the disciplinary commission.

Phil Brown, who led City to the top-flight at Wembley, has outlined to Football League World why recent developments may be detrimental to his old team.I’ve been speaking with other (reporters) about this as if I were conducting an interview, and I am the manager. “That is exactly what Sergej has done,”

Brown explained.According to him (Jared Dublin, sporting director), ‘we need to put all of our attention on playing against Southampton a week on Saturday and make all of our preparations until we’re informed differently’. As a manager of a genuine team, I believe this is the only way to tackle the situation.The former City manager believes it is immoral to postpone, cancel, or move a game to another date if Southampton uses illegal means of transportation.

That goes completely against the entire season and Hull City’s planning for reaching the play-off final. “I believe whoever committed the foul play will gain an advantage, especially if it is Southampton.”The fact that you don’t know when you’re going to play, if you’re going to play them,

or if you’ll face Middlesbrough. Brown added, “It’s just totally wrong that you should never, ever detract from what is probably the biggest and richest game of anyone’s season when you’re playing in the final of the Championship play-offs.”It’s merely an odd circumstance that needs to be well thought out and cleaned up right away. It establishes a precedent. Everyone has an opinion about this, that, and the other. And it will have consequences, without a doubt.”

Phil Brown’s thoughts on what action could be taken ahead of the Hull City-Southampton play-off final

Unsurprisingly, a slew of potential sanctions have been debated among supporters, with Middlesbrough pushing for a sporting sanction against Tonda Eckert’s side, amid claims that the German, or Saints technical director, could be banned until 2027, or the South Coast club could be kicked out of the play-offs entirely.

Given the short time between now and the big event, any final decision is unlikely to delight those who are affected as club employees or supporters. Brown suggested a possible conclusion if the intended date and kick-off time were not met.He praised Hull City’s performance against Millwall over two legs.

In the first game, they were clearly second-class citizens. In the second game, a well-thought-out strategy demonstrated Jakirovic’s expertise to me and the football world.He has the ability to plan, prepare, change, and morph into a different shape or football style. He had players who are dedicated to the cause,

and they delivered results. You know, they finished the job on Monday. Why do you have to obstruct them now? “You don’t have to impede them,” the 66-year-old insisted.

“If there’s some foul play going on, Southampton has unquestionably advanced to the play-off final, as the results show. Then they need to make a rapid decision. If they change their minds and say it’s Middlesbrough, Hull City will have a week to 10 days of preparation, which is fair.But if they don’t, and they cling on and say,

“We’re going to change the venue, and we’re going to change the time,” that simply says, “Advantage Southampton.” They already have an advantage, whether they did it illegally or legally. According to Brown, they already have an advantage due to widespread media coverage.It’s simply wrong. It’s wrong.

As far as I’m concerned, you’re taking away from the competition; if something has to be done, it should be done right away. If not, award Hull City the spoils and send them to the Premier League.”