Hull City boss Steve Bruce has come to the defence of club owner Assem Allam, as the row over changing the club's name to Hull Tigers intensifies, reports Sky Sports.

Allam has angered supporters with his idea to change the club's name after 109 years, and there has been no shortage of protests.

Supporters once again made their feelings towards the owner clear during Sunday's 3-1 win over Liverpool, but Bruce has now leapt to the owner's defence, claiming the protests are merely acting as a distraction towards the team.

Bruce went on to indicate that the fans may simply have to bite the bullet and accept the name change considering all Allam has done for the team and the local community.

"It's not a situation where he's come from afar just to buy a Premier League club - he's been here for 45 years," Bruce said.

"He's helped rugby teams, he's helped North Ferriby United, the amount of work he's done for the community is remarkable.

"I think he bought Hull City because he didn't want Hull without a football team.

"It's a shame to be talking about these things because all the good work he has done is being soured by this name change.

"But there has to be a resolution and a way forward from it because it can only escalate and get worse."

"It's not a situation where he's come from afar just to buy a Premier League club - he's been here for 45 years.

"He's helped rugby teams, he's helped North Ferriby United, the amount of work he's done for the community is remarkable.

"I think he bought Hull City because he didn't want Hull without a football team.

"It's a shame to be talking about these things because all the good work he has done is being soured by this name change.

"But there has to be a resolution and a way forward from it because it can only escalate and get worse."