Maloney: Hull need to rebuild rapport with fans after relegation

Shaun Maloney is keen to see Hull rebuild their relationship with their fans following relegation from the Premier League.

The Tigers were relegated from the Premier League after Sunday’s 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace after just a year following promotion via the play-offs.

Since winning promotion Hull have had three managers, Steve Bruce left during pre-season and then they started the season with just 13 players and Mike Phelan in charge and then Marco Silva took over at the turn of the year.

Silva looks set to leave the club with his contract up at the end of the season and midfielder Maloney would like to see some stability at the club.

He said: “I’ve not been at the club that long, two years. I have had two years of living in the city so you do notice there is a separation between the supporters and the ownership.

“Those two parties — I don’t know what’s gone on before — but in an ideal world it would be great if they could come closer together because it’s a good club, I know from the outside it might seem a different part of the country in the eyes of the media.

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“But it’s a good club and if it’s run well it could be a really stable club. It’s a good place to play and fingers crossed it happens in the future.”

Silva has so far refused to be drawn on his future at the club but regardless of where he is managing next season, Maloney has been impressed.

He added: “He’s an excellent manager.

“I’m sure the owner will speak to him in the next couple of days and those discussions we aren’t privy to. But he has been excellent for us since January and he has been a real pleasure to work for.

“Right at this minute there was not much said [by the players about Silva’s future]. I guess we will find out in the next few days and weeks. I would imagine the club would be absolutely desperate to keep him.

“The manager coming in January gave us hope which I don’t really think we had the right to have, but he gave us that.

“The start of the season, that would definitely be one of the reasons [we have been relegated], the preparation for the season wasn’t good enough.

“That will definitely be one of the reasons but there are numerous and it’s really difficult to pinpoint one.

“I’m sure people within the club will know why it went wrong and know what to do. And hopefully we will be back here again.”