Mascot swaps Tigers for leather

Roary the Tiger in his Hull City days

Division Three of the Nationwide Football League has been rocked by a transfer with a difference - with one club's mascot moving to another.

But Exeter City have denied making an illegal approach for the anonymous occupant of Hull City's Roary the Tiger mascot's costume.

The 29-year-old, whose identity has always been a well-kept secret, will now be taking on the persona of Alexander the Greek at Devon's Grecians.

But Exeter say his path from Boothferry Park in East Yorkshire to St James Park in the south-west did not involve any financial inducement.

He phoned us to say he fancied a change.....he has been offered no money

  Exeter's Claire Longhurst

He is said to have "cried buckets" following his final match for Hull against Southend last weekend.

"I am a life-long Hull fan but the deal was too good to turn down," said the anonymous occupant.

But his fellow Tigers fans are unimpressed by what they clearly see as crocodile tears and many have telephoned Exeter City to complain.

Claire Longhurst, a member of the Grecians' commercial team, said the club spoke to Roary during a recent clash between the two teams, which Exeter won 1-0.

"We wanted to pick his brains about what made a good mascot," she said.

I am a life-long Hull fan but the deal was too good to turn down

  The anonymous mascot man

And the visitors to Boothferry Park took away more than the three points.

"He then phoned us to say he fancied a change, so he is coming down here on a trial period," said the Exeter employee.

"He has been offered no money."

Leather skirt

Longhurst said Exeter had not had a mascot for 10 years and had had trouble recruiting someone.

"I think it's the leather skirt they have to wear," she added.

Alexander the Greek will make his home debut against Rochdale on Saturday.

Hull City say a replacement has already been lined up to fill Roary's suit.