Paul Jeremy Duffen is the ex-chairman of Hull City A.F.C. and was formerly Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst Media Group plc (formerly Newsplayer Group plc), where other board members included Sir David Frost and Steven Smith. He had previously worked in sales and marketing roles for Procter & Gamble and distribution company P J Holloway.[1]
Duffen, in a consortium with majority shareholder Russell Bartlett, purchased Hull City from Adam Pearson for £12 million in June 2007 and replaced him as chairman.[2][3] They had already made unsuccessful attempts to take over West Ham United and Cardiff City.[4] He pledged to invest in the team with the aim of achieving promotion to the top flight for the first time in the club's history.[5] He delivered on his promise of investment with the million pound signing of striker Caleb Folan from Wigan, shattering City's previous transfer record,[6] and bringing in other high earners such as former Nigeria captain and BBC African Footballer of the Year Jay-Jay Okocha and his former Bolton teammate Henrik Pedersen to almost double the club's wage bill.[7]
Under Phil Brown's management, Hull City exceeded Duffen's ambitious targets by finishing third in the Championship in his first season at the helm, equaling their highest ever finish in 1909-10. They went on to make their first ever appearance at Wembley, defeating Bristol City 1–0 in the Championship play-off final to secure promotion to the top flight for the first time in the club's 104-year history.[8] He once again pledged to invest in the team, stating (prior to the final) that "the vast majority of the money that would come in from being in the Premier League would go to Phil for team strengthening and increasing the wage bill".[9] He also offered to fund a 7,000-seat extension to the KC Stadium.[10]
On 29 October 2009, with the club reportedly in financial difficulty, Duffen resigned from his position as Hull Chairman, stating that he believed he should take ultimate responsibility for the Football Club's poor results in 2009.[11] He later admitted disagreements and friction in his working relationship with Bartlett, but defended his stewardship of the club and the financial position in which he left it.[12]
Before taking over at Hull City, Duffen was a fan of Tottenham Hotspur.[13]
| Business positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Adam Pearson |
Hull City A.F.C. chairman 2007 – 2009 |
Succeeded by Adam Pearson |