Tiger economy awaits for renamed Hull City, insists owner Assem Allam | David Conn

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Hull City's Egyptian owner is convinced the club can make an impact globally by changing its name to Hull Tigers

In a marble-floored suite above the factory floor at Assem Allam's company headquarters, the Hull City owner maintains, knowingly, "the man is not for turning" over the issue of renaming the club Hull Tigers. It is not, he repeatedly insists, a change of name, because at Companies House, and registered with the Football Association, the club is officially called Hull City Tigers. This will be only a further shortening of the name, Allam having already dropped AFC earlier this year – "AFC meant nothing," he says, waving his hand.

A dapper 76, Allam, used to running his own business for 30 years, more recently with his son Ehab as a co-director, maintains that Tigers is a name of "power". It will, he envisages, enable the club, known as Hull City since 1904, to market itself globally, making the millions of pounds it needs to become sustainable in the Premier League.

"Manchester United are selling shirts in the far east," Allam says, "selling commercial activities all over the world. We need the club to be known globally, and shortening the name will make the club known globally."

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