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 on Sunday.

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 5-10 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 £36million.

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."

One player likely to be involved against the Potters is midfielder Seyi Olofinjana, who joined the club from Stoke for £3million in the summer.

The Nigerian struggled to establish himself at the Britannia Stadium last season and is keen to repay Brown's faith by helping him turn the Tigers' season around.

"I don't want the manager to get sacked," said the 29-year-old. "He has shown a lot of faith in me and brought me here.

"I feel for him and feel very badly, but we can only help him by playing well and getting points on the board.

"We have got the responsiblity of getting points, it is not just him.

"Training has been nothing different and the manager has got smiles on faces as usual.

"It doesn't matter who is in charge of the club [as chairman], we know we have to start getting points and climbing the table."

Hull and Stoke were both promoted to the top flight in 2008 but their paths have veered since.
Twelve months ago Hull were in the top six while Stoke were pulling away from the bottom, yet by the end of the season it was Tony Pulis' men who survived with greater ease.

This term Stoke are sitting comfortably in mid-table while Hull struggle.

Brown said: "I think Stoke have got a better squad than they had last year and are attacking the Premier League in the same manner.

"We'd all like to achieve the status Stoke had last year.

"Tony was, in many people's eyes, the manager of the year. He has done a magnificent job and everybody's attempting to try to achieve the same."

Brown added that Jimmy Bullard was in contention for a long-awaited home debut after missing two games since his return from a nine-month knee injury lay-off with a shin problem.