Sunday, November 1, 2009

New Hull chief backs boss Brown

Under pressure Hull boss Phil Brown
Brown says he expects to be Hull boss in the top flight next season

New Hull City chairman Adam Pearson has said manager Phil Brown will be in charge for Sunday's game against Stoke.

But Pearson, back at Hull after a two-year absence, did not give assurances over Brown's long-term future, with the club lying 18th in the Premier League.

"Phil will be manager on Sunday but there's no point me saying he's got a job for life, that's not the case," Pearson told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We need results, quickly, and that puts pressure on everyone at the club."

Pearson begins work at Hull on Monday after replacing Paul Duffen as chairman following a two-year spell at Championship side Derby County.

606: DEBATE

The Tigers have won only twice in the league this season and are in the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety.

Pearson conceded that if Brown does not start to change things he may find himself under pressure to keep his job.

"How secure is the manager? That's a tricky one, I think if we don't get results then that security goes down," added Pearson.

"Phil knows that, it's the business we're in. It's been a difficult year and we need to achieve results quickly.

"We're all in this together but we'll have to see what happens over the next couple of weeks."

The luck will change - Brown

Hull's future was thrown into doubt last week after auditor Deloitte warned the Tigers could go out of business if they are relegated at the end of the season.

Deloitte said Hull need £23m "to meet current liabilities" and, if they go down, losing the £7m they get from the Premier League would be a major blow.

Pearson believes the situation at the KC Stadium is not as bad as has been suggested but admitted Hull do need to restructure their finances.

"The wage bill is far too high for the value we've got in there," he stated.

"The club is trading and it's solvent and it can be sorted out but there are too many costs surrounding it which seem to have become a little superfluous. What's the phrase - maybe a little too much champagne, maybe not enough ale!"

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