Nick Buchanan quit as chairman of crisis-stricken Hull City, hours after the club went into administration.

The Tigers survived a winding-up order in the High Court yesterday but the future of the Third Division club remains in doubt.

Kroll Buchler Phillips, a leading corporate recovery and financial restructuring group, were appointed joint administrators of Hull City AFC Limited by order of the High Court.

The order was issued by Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue for payment of £500,000 and other debts believed to total £1million.

Buchanan's offer of resignation to the administrators was accepted.

After ending his two-and-a-half year association with the Tigers, Buchanan said: "I always said I would resign from the club if I felt I was holding them back and I've felt this week that I've been a handicap rather than a help.

"I also did it because I want the club to have a future and I feel the only way for that to happen is for me to step aside and let someone else come in.

"There are no sour grapes. I am passionate about Hull City and want them to survive.

"I have battled, fought and toiled for the last two-and-a-half-years for no financial reward.

"I wish the next person who comes in here to take this job all the best and hope they can build a team the fans can be proud of."

The Tigers have been given a 14-day reprieve to secure their long-term future and attention now turns to Saturday's home game against Leyton Orient which is under threat of not being played.

One of the administrators' first tasks will be to negotiate with landlord David Lloyd to open the gates of the club so Saturday's league fixture can be fulfilled.

Club staff and officials have been locked out of Boothferry Park by Lloyd, who is owed around £45,000 in unpaid rent.

Updated: 12:56 Thursday, February 08, 2001