Hull City’s incredible debut season under Sergej Jakirovic has resulted in a return to the Championship play-off final after a decade away.

The Tigers were struck with a two-window transfer fee restriction in July, prompting predictions that the Bosnian team will be relegated to League One shortly after.

However, their Championship campaign will now go the distance, as they secured their place in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium with an outstanding performance and 2-0 aggregate victory over Millwall in the second leg of the semi-finals on May 11th.

Despite the fact that City have overcome all odds to reach the North London showpiece event, such an achievement has had to take a back seat in the discourse leading up to the final, owing largely to the ongoing drama in the lead-up to, and subsequent fallout from, the other semi-finals involving Southampton and Middlesbrough.

Indeed, prior to the first leg at the Riverside Stadium, it was claimed that a Saints analyst was unauthorisedly filming a training session at Boro’s Rockliffe Park training facility, with Tonda Eckert’s side eventually winning the two-legged affair 2-1 on aggregate after extra-time amid two hostile atmospheres on Teesside and at St Mary’s.

Given the ongoing legal turmoil, the EFL later announced that they were planned a 4:30PM kick-off on Saturday, May 23rd, with Hull and Southampton selling thousands of tickets despite the fact that they and Boro were awaiting the decision of an independent disciplinary commission.

The commission has now ousted the Saints from the playoffs and imposed a four-point deduction for next season in response to additional complaints. However, the club’s prerogative to appeal the ruling may result in the date of the play-off final changing once more.

Unsurprisingly, Cameron Gibson, a Hull City fan and Football League World analyst, hopes that these outcomes are avoided.

Hull City’s attitude on possible play-off final date change amid Southampton and Middlesbrough changes

It has already been announced that City has sold over 30,000 tickets for the play-off final, while supporters travelling from East Yorkshire have previously been issued a travel warning.

However, in terms of on-field training preparations, it was stated that Jakirovic’s squad was ready to face Southampton for the third time, with the 49-year-old and owner, Acun Ilicali, insisting that the game must be played on May 23rd.

An expected appeal from Southampton over their expulsion might heighten the drama and move the date, while Hull is said to be seeking legal advice if that happens.

Gibson stated to FLW that he does not want the game moved, regardless of the circumstances.”Hull City fans do not deserve to be punished.”Now that Southampton has been eliminated, their fans will be unhappy at the club for’spying’, which I believe is correct,” he continued.

“If the game gets moved, then the Hull City fans have been done over by the EFL whilst doing nothing wrong to deserve that.”People are having to rearrange trips from all around the country and foreign countries. “They’re booking flights, hotels, and trains, which is an absolute nightmare.

“Gibson predicted a scenario similar to the 1990 final between Swindon Town and Sunderland, which resulted in Swindon being punished and Sunderland being promoted to the First Division.

If Southampton had won at Wembley, they could still face punishment. However, if Hull City had lost, the investigation and punishment could have been resolved later.But, if they’ve accepted it, well done,” our fan commentator added. “If you admit to gaining an advantage within 72 hours of kick-off, then that is cheating,

and they should be punished.”If they file an appeal, the game may be jeopardised again. “I do not want that.”I’d rather play Southampton, even if they cheated, and then punish them, than restore Middlesbrough and play the game later on.

“If Middlesbrough has been’spied’ on, they will seek justice.”

If anything, they’ve fared worse than Hull City,” Gibson remarked. “We’re still lucky to be in this position and fighting for the Premier League, whereas, on the pitch, Middlesbrough didn’t win the semi-finals.”I simply hope the game is not moved.”

Hull City will hope the pre-play-off final drama can still conclude with Wembley triumph.

At this point, City’s pre-game preparations will have taken a turn, which is not ideal just days before any game, let alone the richest in club sport, with over £200 million on the line for the winners.

However, Jakirovic and his supporters will be reassured by the mentality demonstrated by their squad throughout the campaign, and this is likely to be the case in North London regardless of when the game is played.

As a result, one of the eventual 20-man squad will seek to follow in the footsteps of Dean Windass and Mohamed Diame by scoring a promotion-winning goal in black and amber at the home of football, perhaps changing the destiny of the East Yorkshire club in the coming years.