Duffen took control of the club, fresh from surviving a Coca-Cola Championship relegation battle, in summer 2007 with a long-term desire to establish them as a "force to be reckoned with in English football".

With the Tigers now sitting sixth in the Barclays Premier League after winning promotion, Duffen is well on track to achieving his aims but he admits he could not have expected it so soon.

Duffen told PA Sport: "Success has come really quickly to us. Last season we were re-writing Hull City's history books and this season we are rewriting the Premier League history books, which is a wonderful thing.

"We are certainly not surprised by the success we have had because it was an objective, but the speed at which it has happened has been absolutely fantastic.

"The effect it has had on the city has been humbling and it is a privilege to be here at this point in time."

Hull entered the season as most pundits' favourites for relegation but they have confounded all to stay within reach of the competition's pace-setters.

That has raised the unlikely prospect of a club in the fourth tier just five years ago qualifying for Europe, but Duffen insists avoiding relegation is still the campaign's prime objective.

He said: "I am not a great believer in moving the goalposts halfway through a campaign, staying in the Premier League is all that matters.

"To be honest, whether we finish seventh or 17th doesn't really matter.

"Where we are at this point, it would be disappointing if we finished in the bottom third, but it is not the drive at the football club at the moment. It is important we continue to build and prosper and it is work in progress."

Duffen admits the rapid progress made by the first team, particularly under Phil Brown's management over the past year, has left other parts of the club trailing behind.

The KC Stadium may befit the Premier League but Hull cannot boast top-quality training facilities and neither can they match the junior development programmes of other top-flight clubs.

They are areas Duffen is determined to address in the near future, with an eye possibly being cast on youth recruitment in the January transfer window.

Duffen added: "I would think it may well be that we look at bringing in youngsters in January and in the summer because obviously our academy output and our centre of excellence hasn't been able to keep pace with the rapid rise of the club. We need to fill that void progressively.

"But of course if Phil feels there is anybody out there who can improve the first team and is value for money, then we will be there.

"We are obviously looking to make sure we stay in the Premier League as soon as possible and then we can start building a squad for next year."

The club are also looking at potential sites west of the city, along the M62-A63 corridor, for a new training base and academy.

"Realistically we are talking about a two-year project," Duffen said. "But we want to start as soon as possible.

"We have come a long way. If you are standing on the ladder with Hull City Football Club there is a lot further to look down than to look up at the moment."