PHIL THE PRESSURE

HULL chairman Paul Duffen has launched an impassioned defence of his under-fire manager Phil Brown and insisted his job is safe.

The pair watched their side crash to a humbling 6-1 defeat at Anfield, a loss which raised the pressure on Brown.

Hull have now won only two Premier League games in the whole of 2009 and sit in 19th place.

But Duffen leapt to the defence of the manager he gave a new contract this time last year.

"Just because the chips are down doesn't mean you desert people who have been very good to your football club," he said.

"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.

"We invested in new players in the summer and they will take time to bed in. It is a work in progress. People spend too much time looking in the rear view mirror.

"It is far too early to have anyone's opinions about where we are as a club."

Brown said: "There's a lot of pain flying around now. A lot of it will come my way. It will be an uncomfortable week."
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source: http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/523742/HULL-chairman-Paul-Duffen-has-launched-an-impassioned-defence-of-his-under-fire-manager-Phil-Brown-and-insisted-his-job-is-safeThe-pair-watched-their-side-crash-to-a-humbling-6-1-defeat-at-Anfield-a-loss-which-raised-the-pressure-on-Brown.html