The Hull FC co-owner on the club’s future at the MKM Stadium, making the ground feel like home, and the Johnny Whiteley Stand.
05:00, 29 Jan 2026Updated 08:01, 29 Jan 2026
Hull FC co-owner Andrew Thirkill. (Image: Hull FC)
Andrew Thirkill has insisted that a new stadium isn’t on the cards for Hull FC – with all energy put into securing a new long-term agreement to play at the MKM Stadium.
The Black and Whites’ lease runs out at the end of 2027, with the co-owner stating that talks with the Stadium Management Company will begin within the next week.
Thirkill remains optimistic that the club will get their desired outcome with the relationship between the SMC and Hull City improving and only enhanced with the return of Tony Sutton to the club and the addition of Sian Jones.
Ruling out the option of a new stadium, Thirkill said: “It’s too expensive, in a nutshell. Coming to Hull in the situation it’s been in, and managing it all and rebuilding it all, recreating it all, and bringing it back, sorting out the team, and putting the investment back in – it’s all really good fun; it’s stimulating. It’s fantastic.
“But we don’t need to be thinking about a new stadium now. That is a huge distraction. You’re talking £40-50-60 million. It’s unnecessary.
“The right thing to do is to sort out the MKM Stadium so it suits everybody, Hull FC and Hull City, and the people of Hull. That’s the right play for us. A new stadium would not be the right move. It would be a huge distraction.”
On the club’s progress with the SMC, Thirkill continued: “We’re equal with Hull City in my mind – there is absolutely no differentiation between the two clubs. It’s run by the Stadium Management Company and we pay substantial amounts for the stadium.
“We went to see the council initially to talk about it. David (Hood, co-owner) and I had a good meeting, but we didn’t get the financial outcome we wanted. It’s all about progress and we’ve tried to build a relationship with Hull City, especially Joe Clutterbrook, who runs the SMC.
“I see it as we are not second-class citizens at all. It feels like it with some of the decisions that have been made (in the past), but our arrangement runs out in two years and those talks are starting with the council in a week’s time about where we go with our situation.
“But it’s inequitable – without Hull FC, that stadium would not exist today. That stadium was built for the people of Hull. It needs to be dealt with. We’re making good progress.”
A big focus for Hull FC this year is the feel of the MKM Stadium on matchdays, with the club renaming the East Stand to the Johnny Whiteley Stand for 2026 home games.
“It’s been something that I’ve been really unhappy with,” Thirkill said on the lack of Hull FC feel around the stadium. “But you’ll all see a lot more black and white around the ground this year. We’ve offered to help put up signs that spin so they go to Hull City and then Hull FC.
“We want more. I’m not comfortable with it but when you come into a situation, you look at everything, and you take the mix. There’s no point fighting; you’ve got to work together, and we’re trying to do that.
“Hull City have been great. I’ve been to quite a few Hull City games and enjoyed them, but we need to change that dynamic at the stadium and Sian and her team are doing loads behind the scenes to improve the matchday experience. We need to make the MKM Stadium a fortress. Things are changing, but right now it’s not good enough.“
And on the Whiteley Stand, the co-owner added: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce the rededicating of the East Stand to Johnny Whiteley, and it will be known as the Johnny Whiteley Stand when Hull FC are playing at home.
“It will be honoured at the Bradford game with all of Johnny Whiteley’s family present. They are fully supportive and thrilled, as we are. It’s about time that he was recognised. We’ve dealt with that at the club and Sian has been instrumental in putting that together.
“It will be renamed the Johnny Whitley Stand – it’s correct, but it’s part and parcel of bringing the MKM Stadium to be Hull FC’s environment on matchday. That is something we need to keep working on with the SMC.”