The transformation of Steve Bruce's squad

In two years, Steve Bruce has transformed the Hull City squad from a group who were short of the quality and quantity needed to challenge for the Championship play-offs into a squad planning to take on a second season in the Premier League as well as making a first ever foray into European football.

It's been done in three phases with the spending rising from moderate to ambitious to (relatively) astronomical with every achievement Bruce has made. 

The club only paid only one transfer fee until promotion from the Championship looked distinctly possible though the huge losses the accounts showed were incurred that season suggest that a large commitment was made to wages and signing on fees.

Prior to the first season back in the Premier League, the club took a cautious approach to transfers and the players signed were ridiculously good value.

The signing of Tom Huddlestone showed a ramping up of ambition at the club who have not looked back since committing over £30m on five signings. 

The club has decided to allocate large chunks of their Premier League TV money to new signings and what is surely a doubling of the wage bill since the summer of 2012 when Bruce was appointed.

Aside from prize money and TV revenue the club has poor revenue streams so as long as someone is doing their sums right - gambling it on staying in the Premier League is the only approach possible.

Goalkeepers

Then: Cracknell, Oxley.

Now: Harper, Jakupovic, McGregor, Oxley.

Been and gone: Amos, Stockdale.

Cost (net): £1.8m.

Defenders

Then: Bradley, Chester, Cooper, Dawson, Dudgeon, East, Hobbs, McShane, Rosenior, Townsend.

Now: Bruce, Chester, Davies, Dudgeon, Figueroa, McShane, Rosenior, Townsend.

Been and gone: Faye.

Cost (net): £1.75m.

Midfielders

Then: Cairney, Devitt, Emerton, Evans, Koren, McKenna, Olofinjana, Stewart.

Now: Boyd, Brady, Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Ince, Livermore, Meyler, Quinn, Snodgrass.

Been and gone: Fathi, Henderson.

Cost (net): £25.4m (excluding Ince fee still to be agreed).

Forwards

Then: Cullen, Fryatt, McLean, Simpson.

Now: Aluko, Jelavic, Long, Proschwitz, Sagbo.

Been and gone: Gedo, Graham.

Cost (net): £18.4m.