Dean Windass today began his Hull loan spell by promising stunned City fans: I will be back.

Supporters are still coming to terms with the club's decision to allow the 12-goal top scorer to join his home-town club for the rest of the season.

As reported on the T&A website yesterday, City will receive a fee - thought to be worth a six-figure amount - from the Championship strugglers. They will also save on Windass's wages for the next four months.

Windass shook hands on the deal with Hull boss Phil Brown last night and said: "I know it was a financial decision with Bradford and if it helps them get back on track, then that's a good thing.

"I was as surprised as anybody to get the call and hear they'd agreed a fee but it was out of my hands. I never thought it would happen.

"I'm a Hull City fan through and through and I've never denied that and I'm excited by the challenge. My family are all from over there and it's a great opportunity for me to play in front of 20,000 home fans every other week.

"But I'm only there until the end of the season and I'm still a Bradford City player. I don't know what goes on behind the scenes but I'm sure we will be fine and hopefully the other lads can chip in with the goals without me there.

"My aim right now is to keep Hull in the Championship but hopefully this can help Bradford out with the cash and I will be back next year."

Windass, who signed a contract extension earlier this season tying him to Valley Parade until June 2009, has made no secret of his wish to play for Hull again.

He scored 57 league goals in 176 appearances in his first spell with the Tigers and has been frequently linked with a return.

City stressed the short-term departure of the third highest goal-scorer in their history was taken purely for financial and not football reasons.

It was actually suggested by chairman Julian Rhodes as a method of bringing in some much-needed cash and he put the idea to Windass.

Rhodes said: "January was always going to be a difficult month for us and I needed to generate some money from somewhere. This is a way of raising some funds and still retaining Dean for the future.

"It also means that we don't have to accept the sort of offers for Jermaine Johnson that we might have had to consider before. Now we can hopefully look to start next season with both Dean and Jermaine in the team."

With no Windass, boss Colin Todd will hope to have Eddie Johnson back in the squad at Tranmere tomorrow night after a six-game injury absence.

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