On 13 June 2006, Peter Taylor left Hull to take up the job vacated by Dowie at Crystal Palace, a club at which he had enjoyed considerable success as a player.

Chairman Adam Pearson stated his ambition to take Hull into the top flight for the first time in their history[1] – and he believed Phil Parkinson was the manager to do it.

[2] However, their dismal start to the 2006–07 season was hardly the form of a team attempting to gain promotion, and on 4 December 2006 Parkinson was sacked as manager with Hull in the relegation zone, despite having spent over £2 million on players.

This left them 3 points clear of Leeds United, the only side with a chance of overtaking them, but with a vastly superior goal difference this was only a mathematical possibility.

By 4 May, due to a lack of any realistic chance of them remaining in the Championship, Leeds went into administration[4] and in doing so received the 10 point penalty such a move incurs.