Hull chairman defends under-fire boss Brown

Hull City chairman Paul Duffen insists Phil Brown’s future as manager of the struggling Premier League team is not under threat despite Saturday’s 6-1 thrashing at Liverpool.

The Tigers are second from bottom of the Premier League table after three consecutive defeats and have conceded 19 goals in seven matches.

After only avoiding relegation on the final day of last season following a shocking run of results in the second half of the campaign, Brown was confident of revitalising the club with new signings over the close-season. But Hull now look certain to face a long battle to beat the drop.

However, although Brown is starting to come under fire from fans and pundits, Duffen is adamant the manager deserves time to put things right.

“Just because the chips are down doesn’t mean you desert people who have been very good to your football club,” he said in the News of the World on Sunday.

“You don’t forget what Phil Brown has done here. He kept us up when were bottom of the Championship. He took us up into the Premier League, took us to the top of the table and kept us up.

“He is still the same manager who got the manager of the month award 12 months ago. It is too early to panic. We are seven games into the new season.

“The spirit is there in the team for everyone to see. Phil is in the second year of a three-year contract. We know what he is capable of.

“The final scoreline at Liverpool was hard on us but losing at Anfield doesn’t change anything. Fernando Torres was on fire and the game was alive at half-time.”