Hull City-Burnley F.C. Preview

Oct 29, 2009 - 6:13 PM WALTER SIMON STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Hull manager Phil Brown is desperate to prove the resignation of club chairman Paul Duffen should not mean Saturday's clash with Burnley at Turf Moor will be his last in charge.

Brown's future is in doubt again after Duffen quit to make way for the possible return of Adam Pearson who finds Hull already among the Premier League's strugglers.

Duffen stood down after two years in charge and his departure has cast doubt on Brown's ability to hang on to his job.

Duffen made it clear that he felt Brown should stay as manager but that his own position had become untenable.

"My methods were not working and sometimes it is important for executives to be held accountable. I enjoyed the successes of the previous two years but I have to take responsibility for the disappointments of 2009."

The Tigers go to Burnley with only eight points from ten matches and facing a long winter of struggle against relegation.

Brown was booed off after the goalless home draw with bottom-placed Portsmouth but is determined to keep to his task of masterminding Hull's latest battle to retain their Premier League status.

Duffen said: "I have no doubts Phil Brown will stay in charge. He has the experience and quality to get the club out of its present predicament and I am backing him to turn things around."

Brown was sorry to see close ally Duffen go at a critical stage in the season.

"The chairman's resignation does not affect my position. My players are 100 per cent behind me and hopefully they will show that against Burnley."

Brown is hoping injury-victim Jimmy Bullard will be available for the trip to Burnley which is already being seen as a relegation battle.

Bullard made a brief appearance at his old club Fulham as a substitute but then sustained a shin injury in a reserve team match the following day.

Burnley, meanwhile, have doubts about who will their goalkeeper against Hull this weekend.

Peru international Diego Penny stands by to make his first league start in 69 matches if first-choice Brian Jensen fails to recover from an ankle injury. Penny came on as a substitute for Jensen in the 3-1 home defeat by Wigan which ended Burnley's unblemished record at Turf Moor this season.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle also has concerns about thigh-strain victim Stephen Jordan but is just as worried about swine flu.

"There is a lot of it about in the North West and there have been some coughs and sniffles but nothing untoward."

Experienced midfield player Graham Alexander is in line to make his 100th appearance at the age of 38 and is enjoying his belated taste of the big time.

Alexander said: "We are all enjoying playing in the Premier League. Every match is something a bit different and a massive challenge.

"The defeat by Wigan last week made us realise just how hard it is going to be in this division. We must get over the Wigan defeat and get back to making us unbeatable at Turf Moor."