Paul Duffen

Paul Jeremy Duffen is the chairman of Hull City football club, and was formerly Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst Media Group plc (formerly Newsplayer Group plc), where other board members included Sir David Frost and Steven Smith. He had previously worked in sales and marketing roles for Procter & Gamble and distribution company P J Holloway. [cite web |url=http://www.streamingmedia.com/bio.asp?id=4113 |title=Paul Duffen |accessdate=2008-05-28 |publisher=streamingmedia.com]

Duffen, in a consortium with Russell Bartlett and Martin Walker, purchased Hull City from Adam Pearson in June 2007 and replaced him as chairman.cite news
title = New owner takes over at Hull City
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/6740257.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-06-11
accessdate = 2007-06-16] They had already made unsuccessful attempts to take over West Ham United and Cardiff City.cite news
title = A Look At Paul Duffen
url = http://www.hull.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=69329
publisher = Vital Football
accessdate = 2007-06-16] He pledged to invest in the team with the aim of achieving promotion to the top flight for the first time in the club's history. [cite web | title = New Man Reveals Plans | url = http://www.hullcityafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10338~1034925,00.html | accessdate =18 June | accessyear = 2007 ] He said for the 2007-08 season he wanted the team in the top half of the Championship, and the season after that he wanted the team in the play-offs.cite news
title = New Man Reveals Plans
url = http://www.hullcityafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10338~1034925,00.html
publisher = Hull City AFC
date = 2007-06-15
accessdate = 2007-06-17] He delivered on his promise of investment with the million pound signing of striker Caleb Folan from Wigan, shattering City's previous transfer record,cite web
title = Hull break record to land Folan
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/6972013.stm
publisher = BBC
date = 2007-09-01
accessdate = 2007-09-01] and bringing in other high earners such as former Nigeria captain and BBC African Footballer of the Year Jay-Jay Okocha and his former Bolton teammate Henrik Pedersen to almost double the club's wage bill. [cite news |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Wembley-return-for-hometown-boy.4115051.jp |title=Wembley return for hometown boy Barmby |date=2008-05-23 |accessdate=2008-05-28 |publisher=Yorkshire Post]

Under Phil Brown's management, Hull City exceeded Duffen's ambitious targets by finishing third in the Championship in his first season at the helm, equaling their highest ever finish in 1909-10. They went on to make their first ever appearance at Wembley, defeating Bristol City 1-0 in the Championship play-off final to secure promotion to the Premiership. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7416502.stm |title=Bristol City 0-1 Hull |first=Phil |last=McNulty |date=2008-05-24 |accessdate=2008-05-26 |publisher=BBC Sport] He once again pledged to invest in the team, stating (prior to the final) that "the vast majority of the money that would come in from being in the Premier League would go to Phil for team strengthening and increasing the wage bill". [cite news |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/hull/Duffen-plans-for-the-long.4117095.jp |title=Duffen plans for the long term in event of taking Premier prize |first=Richarrd |last=Sutcliffe |date=2008-05-23 |accessdate=2008-05-28 |publisher=Yorkshire Post] He also offered to fund a 7,000-seat extension to the KC Stadium. [cite news |url=http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/s-time-build-KC-Stadium/article-180795-detail/article.html |title=It's time to build up KC Stadium |date=2008-05-28 |accessdate=2008-05-28 |publisher=Hull Daily Mail]

Before taking over at Hull City, Duffen was a fan of Tottenham Hotspur. [cite web|url=http://www.hullcityafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10338~44009,00.html|title=Tottenham vs Hull City|date=2008-10-05|publisher=Hull City OWS|accessdate=2008-10-10]

References