Hull have revealed details of a loan from the Football League and Premier League aimed to help keep the squad together as they plan for life back in the Sky Bet Championship, but operating under restrictions.

The Tigers won promotion as champions of League One last season but the club remain under financial stress, which has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Along with fellow Championship sides Derby and Reading, Hull are one of eight clubs in the EFL to have restrictions imposed by the EFL, including having to function under a transfer embargo.

Under the conditions, the clubs will see their transfer business impacted, with a cap on fees paid and weekly wage levels as well as facing a set squad size.

Hull, though, remain hopeful the agreement will bring some stability in the long term.

“To mitigate the financial pressures the club is facing, we have taken out a short-term interest free loan from the EFL/PL to enable us to keep the core of our squad together and avoid being forced into player sales at a time when the transfer market is unlikely to deliver strong results for selling clubs,” a statement from Hull read.

“Upon taking the loan, a number of conditions were imposed upon us and we were fully aware that we would be subject to certain limitations and restrictions in the transfer market until such time that the loan is repaid.

“These limitations include a squad size of no more than 25 established players, a cap on individual transfer fees and a limit on weekly wages.

“After such a successful season in League One, securing our first league title since 1966, our number one priority was keeping the group of players that delivered that achievement together.

“Taking out this loan will allow us to do that, with the associated restrictions causing little impact on our planned transfer activity.

“Since securing promotion, we have received a number of significant bids from Premier League clubs for our players, all of which have been turned down.

“Without the loan from the EFL/PL we would not have been in a position to do that and the only option would have been to sell players, perhaps at figures lower than our valuation.”

Hull are confident they can improve the squad, with midfielders Andy Cannon and George Moncur already having arrived during the summer.

“Whilst we are subject to restrictions around our transfer dealings, we are still able to bring players in and we are delighted with the quality and number of additions we have already made to the squad,” the club statement continued.

“There are many an example of a large budget not guaranteeing success, and we have confidence that our recruitment department and coaching staff will continue the good work of last season as we embark upon a new campaign, with our fans once again by our side.

“Though we are in a position where we don’t need to sell players, if we receive bids that we think offer fair value, player sales would allow us to settle the loan and remove transfer restrictions.

“The financial position of the club is under constant review and we welcome the recent news that crowds look to be returning next month to bring in much needed match day revenue, again something which may lead to us being able to repay the loan quicker than originally anticipated.”