Life in League One is due to start in a few weeks for Hull City, and they have wasted no time in announcing which players will play a part in their fixtures next season. 

The club announced the following retained and release lists this afternoon on their social media channels.

Under Contract:
George Long, Ryan Tafazolli, Jordy de Wijs, Reece Burke, David Milinkovic, Daniel Batty, Tom Eaves, Matt Ingram, Angus MacDonald, George Honeyman, Brandon Fleming, Callum Elder, Josh Magennis, Keane Lewis-Potter, Leo Da Silva Lopes, Martin Samuelsen, Mallik Wilks, James Scott, Festus Arthur.

Offered Terms of Re-Engagement:
Angus MacDonald.

Released:
Kevin Stewart, Jon Toral, Will Mannion, Robbie McKenzie

Returned To Parent Clubs:
Josh Bowler (Everton), Matthew Pennington (Everton), Herbie Kane (Liverpool).

The Tigers’ website also made the following statement:

The Club would like to place on record its thanks to all the players who have not been retained for their contribution whilst at the KCOM Stadium and wish them well in their future careers.”

Whilst it is up the air whether defender Angus MacDonald will sign the contract offered, many fans will be keen for the ex-Barnsley man to commit to the club after two years of horrific luck. An awful injury followed by treatment and subsequent recovery from cancer was one of the only positives to come out of the Tigers' season since the restart.

Both Kevin Stewart and Jon Toral are players that have had their injury problems in East Yorkshire, but had the potential to be key figures for the team. This never materialized, however. Stewart's departure in particular will irk the City fans after seeing a sizeable fee paid out for the ex-Liverpool man who has been allowed to leave the club as a free agent.

Similarly with Toral, the one-time Barcelona player had great technical ability and never really flourished for the Tigers since being signed to play for then manager Leonid Slutsky in August 2017. Barely 50 appearances and three years later, he too is released for nothing as Hull City clear the decks ready for life in League One.

Hull City finished bottom of the Championship and face the prospect of League One football for the first time since 2004/05 season. It was the first time the Tigers finished bottom in a season since 1995/96.

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