HULL’S heroes will party in Las Vegas after hitting a £215MILLION jackpot for promotion to the Premier League.
Oli McBurnie was the ‘ matchwinner as his 95th-minute strike ended a nine-year top-flight exile.
Oli McBurnie has won his team-mates a trip to Las Vegas Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Acun Ilicali is paying for the trip to Sin City Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
It meant , who were propelled into the play-off final after Southampton were booted out over the Spygate storm.
Hull owner Acun Ilicali told SunSport: “The players are the heroes. I have never seen so much belief in any team in my life.
“Forget … wouldn’t have scored in those last seven minutes.
“I’ve just told them, don’t worry, Las Vegas is on! I’m not in the party.
“I will celebrate with my family, my daughters and my wife.
“This week Oli McBurnie came to me and said, ‘Mr Chairman, don’t worry, I will score and we will win’.
“Afterwards he said to me, ‘I told you so.’”
Turkish media mogul Ilicali, worth £100m, bought Hull in 2022.
McBurnie netted the winner in the 95th minute Credit: Reuters
Ilicali also believes McBurnie can save him in the transfer market and fire them to survival.
He added: “He’ll score over ten. He has the capacity to score more than ten, but of course, the team has to be good so he can score.
“Nobody can score alone. It’s a team business.
“But I’ve never been unsuccessful but the Premier League will be the biggest challenge.
Asked if the Vegas trip would eat into his summer transfer budget, Ilicali replied: “Maybe it was a mistake! But it’s been good motivation.
“All they want is to be loved and taken care of.
“I asked my guys how much money we were giving to players for a bonus.
“It was a crazy amount of money. In my first year I was trying to make an impression.
“It was the highest in the league — but was it enough? No.
“So I told them this year, ‘I’d like to send you to !’ Enjoy! Let them enjoy their lives.”
Boss Sergej Jakirovic will not be partying Stateside. The Bosnian, 49, said: “No — this is a trip for the players. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! This is not for me!”
Hull skipper Lewie Coyle was particularly emotional after winning promotion with his hometown club.
Hull are headed to the Premier League Credit: AFP
He dedicated victory to his late dad and famous Hull greengrocer Chris Coyle, who died aged 59 in 2022.
Coyle said: “This is emotional and tough.
“There’s one man I want to celebrate this with. He’s not with us.
“I look up at the sky and he’s with me. I don’t think many people thought I could captain a side to the Premier League.
“My old man believed in me. That’s all I told myself throughout the game.”
For Boro, it was a disappointing end to the saga that saw them take Southampton’s final place.
Boss Kim Hellberg said: “It’s the toughest two weeks I’ve had in terms of emotions.
“It’s been tough and draining but it is not an excuse. We were ready to play.
“Hull scored the goal and we have to congratulate them.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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