Hull City manager Steve Bruce Credit: Press Association
Hull City boss Steve Bruce has begun the process of reshaping his squad for the Barclays Premier League by offering new deals to four players and releasing a dozen others.
Defenders Paul McShane and Liam Rosenior have been offered new contracts along with goalkeeper Mark Oxley, while Abdoulaye Faye has automatically triggered a new 12-month deal after reaching a pre-agreed number of appearances.
But 12 players have been shown the door to make way for new arrivals, with long-serving defender Andy Dawson and former Arsenal trainee Jay Simpson the most prominent.
Also leaving the club are Paul McKenna, Seyi Olofinjana, Sonny Bradley, Lewis Clarkson, Mark Cullen, Jamie Devitt, Kealan Dillon, Daniel East, Daniel Emerton and Francis McCaffrey
It has been an evening of celebrations for Hull City fans. Thousands have packed out the KC stadium for a victory celebration to mark the club's promotion back to the Premier League. The ticket-only party started earlier this evening - James Webster was there for us.
Hull City's Paul McShane celebrates scoring the second goal with team-mates David Meyler (right) and James Chester (left) Credit: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Hull City fans will get another chance to salute their heroes tonight when the club hosts a victory parade at the KC Stadium following their promotion to the Premier League.
Former Hull chairman: "second promotion better than first"
Former Hull chairman Paul Duffen has said the club's promotion to the Barclays Premier League this year as being a greater achievement than 2008.
The Tigers' returned to the top flight with a second-placed finish in the npower Championship on Saturday, after they drew 2-2 at the KC Stadium.
When Hull went up five years earlier via the Championship play-offs, it was the first time they had reached the top division in their history.
But Duffen, who took over as chairman in 2007 before resigning two years later, said their latest achievement is better.
"This was even better than 2008. To see Hull clinch promotion automatically, without the need for the nervy, fretful experience of the play-offs, was superb.
"Great credit must go to (club owners) Assem and Ehab Allam and to manager Steve Bruce and his team for toughing it out to the end.
"Mind you, there was plenty of tension in the KC as we waited for the news from Watford. I was anxious, everyone was anxious, but it was worth the wait.
"This was a special moment for Hull to reclaim their place in the Premier League. No-one gave them a chance of winning promotion at the start of the season but they have had such a wonderful campaign."
