Hull City currently sit in the bottom three of the Championship with just under six weeks until the opening of the January transfer window.

And with the Tigers needing reinforcements in the New Year, Nigel Adkins has drawn up different lists of players he would like to bring in - depending on who is in charge of the club come January.

That is, of course, on the back of uncertainty regarding how much money the club will have to spend on players due to continued takeover talks at the club.

Current owners Assem and Ehab Allam have indicated that they do not expect to still be Hull’s owners by the turn of the year with former chairman Paul Duffen leading a consortium that has been in discussion regarding a takeover.

There has been a lack of transparency throughout the negations, and many are in the dark as to whether a deal can be completed by Christmas, which could potentially end up causing issues in what looks to be a massive January for the club.

When speaking ahead of Hull’s clash with Nottingham Forest tomorrow, Nigel Adkins commented on his potential January plans.

“We’ve got a list of players who are potentials should different scenarios arise,” said Adkins. “Whether you can or not, we’ll have to wait and see.

“It’s not good to have uncertainty. You want clarity in what you’re doing. We’re preparing as best we can for certain situations that might arise. In the meantime, we’re working extremely hard with the players.

“You’ll ask where we are with (the takeover) and where the football club is going in the future, potential ownership or not. Who knows? But we’re trying to be prepared.”

Adkins and his managerial cohorts have already discussed plans with the head of recruitment Lee Darnbrough, according to the Hull Daily Mail, to identify potential recruits despite the lack of clarity on the funds available.

The verdict

This news is potentially very damaging for Hull considering they are in the bottom three.

Clarity as well a definitive decision must be made ahead of time so Nigel Adkins can get his primary targets in to pull the club away from a potential drop down to the third tier.

Regardless of who is in charge, the Tigers’ squad needs bolstering, and it is imperative they do so if they want any chance of putting up a fight to escape the bottom three.

It’s merely a waiting game as to when the new owners arrive, ideally before the New Year, but if that is not forthcoming, then Hull will need to take things as they come in January.

Adkins is right to hedge his bets with two lists depending on the circumstances ahead of the turn of the year.