Defiant Brown claims he’s not feeling the heat

HULL boss Phil Brown has again brushed off speculation over his future by claiming he is under no additional pressure to win this weekend.

Brown’s position has come under heavy scrutiny after a week of turmoil at the KC Stadium that has seen Adam Pearson installed as chairman for a second time.

Pearson has been brought in to try to turn the club around after losing its way both financially and on the field.

While debts mounted under the previous regime, form also deserted Brown’s team and they could be bottom of the Barclays Premier League come kick-off against Stoke tomorrow. It has been claimed that only a victory can save Brown’s job but when asked if he was wearying of such suggestions, the man himself remained defiant.

Brown said: “I am not tired of hearing it – I am not aware of it. It is as simple as that.

“People are saying it’s a must-win game but it’s not a must-win game at all. As far as I am concerned, putting a performance in similar to the Burnley game will be sufficient to get the home crowd going.

“If we get that performance the results will follow. It is about putting our best foot forward in the first five-10 minutes to get the crowd behind us.”

Among the pressing issues facing Pearson is the size of the club’s wage bill, which has officially been revealed as £36 million (€40m).

That could mean a number of players moving on in the January transfer window but Brown would not be drawn on suggestions Pearson may wish to offload as many as 15 of the squad. “He hasn’t said that to me,” Brown said.

Yet in general, Brown is well aware that the media spotlight is shining both on him and his team ahead of Stoke’s visit.

Hull have won just twice in the Premier League this season – and only three times in the whole of 2009 – and a lengthy relegation scrap looms.

Brown said: “It’s part and parcel of my job, trying to keep the players away from speculation.

“I look at my players on the training ground to see if the pressure is getting to them and all I can say is that they will be throwing their hats into the ring this weekend. I can’t ask any more as a manager.

“We have got to keep in any positivity and keep any negativity outside the camp.

“With the amount of media pressure it’s very easy to get distracted but where the players are concerned, going into the game, we are looking for a performance.”