HULL CHIEF QUIT TO SAVE BROWN'S JOB
Duffen fell on his sword after ultimatum
PAUL DUFFEN fell on his sword at Hull to save Phil Brown from being sacked.
The ultimatum came from owner Russell Bartlett 11 days ago that the City boss had to be fired after a run of just three Premier League wins in 2009.
But former chairman Duffen, who with Brown led the club from the depths of the Championship to England's elite, refused to sanction the dismissal.
Bartlett, the club's financier, had become increasingly concerned that the Tigers' slide would lead them to relegation.
He estimated a drop in divisions would cost them around £30million and demanded a change at the top.
Duffen, however, fought Brown's corner. He insisted the manager still had the full support of the dressing- room and that a win could revitalise a side that has been unrecognisable as the one which swept all before them in 2008.
Bartlett refused to accept things could carry on as they were and eventually Duffen tendered HIS resignation instead.
It led to Duffen's shock departure last week, ending his 28-month tenure at the KC Stadium.
And that has given Brown a stay of execution as he looks to arrest an alarming run of form. His first game in charge under the stewardship of returning chairman Adam Pearson ended in defeat at Burnley last week.
And he knows another loss at home to Stoke City today will further destabilise his own position with City marooned at the base of the Premier League table.
A source revealed: "The chairman said he couldn't remain in charge if he wasn't the man making the key decisions.
"He still believed in Phil Brown and thought he had the players right behind him.
"A couple of wins will change the picture and he told Bartlett that.
"But the owner wanted change and in the end the only solution Duffen could come up with was to leave."
Profit
Since then a series of damaging allegations have been made about the financial state of Hull City. However, I understand accounts to be released next month will show City actually made a £2m pre-tax PROFIT for the last 12 months of trading.
Their debt is around £9m, a third of the figure initially suggested.
They spent less than £3m on agents' fees, operating at the standard five per cent of a transfer fee going to a player's representatives.
They have a wage bill of £30m - one of the lowest in the top flight - which sits comfortably within a turnover of £52m.
Their desire to cull a big squad was revealed in Sport of the World last month.
The apparent financial meltdown began due to a delay in the accounts for 2008 being filed and the note that relegation would mean £23m had to be found just to operate.
Our source added: "Every club that gets relegated from the Premier League will either have to sell players or refinance or both.
"The estimated cost of going
down is around £30m and that goes for every club.
"The accounts were delayed due to new financial rules that mean clubs can no longer include players as assets due to the difficulty in actually nailing a market value to them.
"They were also done in October 2008, just after promotion, which meant player bonuses had been paid for going up and the Premier League money had not come through.
"A lot of mud has been thrown at the club but it is in good financial order."
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