Former Hull chief Paul Duffen denies claims over finances

Former Hull chairman Paul Duffen today denied allegations over his running of the football club as it began legal action against him.

His barrister, Lexa Hilliard QC, was responding at a preliminary hearing at the High Court in London when orders for disclosure and charges over a property were agreed.

Miss Hilliard told Mrs Justice Proudman that although Mr Duffen had consented to the orders "this was not to be taken as an admission by my client of any of the allegations against him".

An order freezing Mr Duffen's assets made last Friday was lifted and substituted with an order to value and place a charge on a property.

Mr Duffen also agreed to hand over computer files.

A date for the trial of the issues has not been fixed.

Hull allege Mr Duffen used money for his own personal use and his company received payments from agents in return for using those agents to deal with transfers.

The club said in a statement: "The company believes that Mr Duffen has acted in breach of his employment contracts and fiduciary duties as a director, through the use of company monies for his own personal expenditure and other wrongdoings.

"The company also believes that he has acted in breach of his employment contracts and fiduciary duties as a director, through the payment of certain monies by third party football agents to Mr Duffen's services company, in return for which Mr Duffen procured that Hull City contract with the agents for business."