Despite the Tigers skipper being on the brink of retirement…

Recently departed Hull chairman Paul Duffen clearly hasn’t been keeping up with Dean Ashton’s troubles at West Ham. According to The Mirror, one of his last acts before leaving was to give club captain Ian Ashbee a brand new £20,000 p/w contract.

Considering Ashbee is a Tigers legend, having captained the club from League Two to the Premier League, this wouldn’t typically be an issue - except the 34-year-old midfielder has been ruled out of the whole 09/10 season with a cruciate ligament injury which could force him into retirement. Oh, and Hull are already £27m in debt … mainly thanks to their crippling wage bill.