Hull City supporters campaigning against changing the name of the club have said that they have received positive feedback from the Premier League following a meeting on Wednesday.
Representatives of 'City Till We Die' (CTWD), the fans' group that opposes Hull owner Assem Allam's plan to change the name of the Yorkshire outfit, said that discussions with the Premier League director of communications and public policy, Bill Bush, and the head of supporter services, Cathy Long, have given them hope.
In a statement released on their website, CTWD said that the meeting was "positive" and hailed the Premier League for valuing the "heritage of British football clubs" as a "fundamental element of its brand".
The statement added that the meeting concluded that "any material changes to that heritage and brand should be done in consultation with supporters and wider stakeholders in football", and that the "Premier League is prepared to approach the Football Association to discuss how these important matters can be protected within the framework of their respective rules."
The Premier League has also confirmed that it held a meeting with City supporters on Wednesday.
"We met fan representatives from Hull City who expressed their concerns regarding the potential for a change in the name of the club," The Independent quotes a spokesman for the Premier League as saying.
"We explained the processes that would have to be undertaken before any such change could happen and committed to maintaining dialogue throughout."
Allam wants to change the name of the club from Hull City to Hull City Tigers.
