Rob Mac drops in a heartfelt congratulations note for Hull City on the club’s Premier League promotion after the club’s owner had raised a valid playoff claim for Wrexham ahead of the final.
The 2025/26 Championship campaign recently ended with Hull City beating Middlesbrough to secure a Premier League spot for next season. What’s interesting is that while the playoff final didn’t involve Wrexham, the club were still among the discussion topics ahead of the Wembley showdown.
The reason is that the Spygate scandal and the EFL’s verdict on the matter have left few people content. Days ago, Wrexham star Josh Windass gave his reaction, questioning whether the Reds deserved a possible re‑entry in the playoffs after Southampton’s expulsion.
Notably, this concern was also raised by Hull City owner Acun Ilıcalı ahead of the Wembley final as well. While expressing his disagreement over how Middlesbrough were reinstated after being beaten by Southampton, Ilıcalı questioned why Wrexham weren’t given the opportunity instead.
Hull owner Acun Ilicali raised valid playoff claim for Wrexham
The Spygate incident involving Southampton and Middlesbrough barely ended up being limited to those two clubs. Though the EFL delivered their verdict by expelling the Saints from the playoff final, the decision to reinstate Boro has been highly controversial and unfair in the eyes of Hull.
That’s because Middlesbrough had been beaten by Southampton over two semi‑final legs. From the perspective of Hull fans, the Saints’ expulsion should have paved the way for their direct promotion to the Premier League.
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In another possible arrangement, Hull City stood in favour of restarting the playoffs by reinstating Wrexham in place of Southampton. Given that the Reds narrowly missed out on a playoff spot, the expulsion of a club should have opened the door for them.
As quoted by the BBC, Hull owner Acun Ilıcalı expressed his feelings on the matter: “If this action was so big that a team is out of the play-offs, why didn’t they let them not play the semi-final, investigate and take Southampton out and put Wrexham in? Why is Wrexham out now? Put Wrexham in and continue the competition.”
According to Ilıcalı, the EFL should have been proactive and never allowed the semi‑final between Southampton and Middlesbrough to proceed amid the Spygate saga. Given that this wasn’t done, Wrexham deserved a playoff spot after the Saints’ expulsion.
Rob Mac follows up with a congratulations post for Hull City
Wrexham were widely underestimated throughout the 2025/26 Championship campaign. Given that the club were backed by Hull City owner Acun Ilıcalı, the Wrexham co‑owners didn’t forget to follow up.
Soon after the Tigers emerged victorious in the Wembley playoff final, Rob Mac took to X to congratulate them. The Hollywood owner wrote: “Wow HullCity An amazing achievement. With all the controversy and noise, you still got it done. Congrats to you and your town.”
While Wembley finals have long been known to decide a promotion winner, this Hull victory stood out for several reasons. Although the Tigers were under a transfer embargo for the 2025/26 campaign, they emerged as one of the hardest teams to beat in the Championship.
Again, Hull were caught off guard by an opposition change just three days before the final. Yet they didn’t lose their momentum and defeated Middlesbrough fair and square to seal their Premier League return.
This remarkable feat deserves appreciation from the Wrexham owners, especially after Hull owner Acun Ilıcalı’s concern for the club. Though the Championship season has ended without Wrexham being given a deserved shot at promotion, the Reds will aim to mount an even stronger push next season.
READ MORE WREXHAM NEWS HERE:
- Wrexham enter Southampton ‘Spygate’ affair amidst Josh Windass playoff demands
- Wrexham track 19yo Rangers winger who recently earned 2026 FIFA World Cup call-up
- Danny Ward revealed Wrexham’s No.1 plan for 2026/27 Championship season
- Josh Windass fumes at EFL’s playoff final decision (it harmed Wrexham)
- Retired Spanish midfielder makes Wrexham transfer claim for departing Barcelona legend
