Source: Telegraph
Hull cannot buy topflight survival in new year transfer window warns Adam Pearson
Pearson issued a blunt assessment of the Tigers' fight for top-flight survival that suggested manager Phil Brown will not be able to bolster his squad with new signings when the transfer window re-opens in January. [LNB]The former Derby chairman, who returned to the KC Stadium from Pride Park a fortnight ago, spoke out after being brought in to the club by owner Russell Bartlett to sort out its financial problems which mean Hull have debts of £9 million. [LNB] Related ArticlesBullard backs Brown to remain in chargeHull deny 'wrongdoing' over Michael Turner saleTurner's transfer to Sunderland under investigationHull City v Stoke City: match previewHull need consistency, says Craig FaganHull City 2 Stoke City 1In a candid interview Pearson said: "It has been a really long two weeks but now I think fans are aware that the club is in a difficult financial environment. [LNB]"Hopefully, we can all come together in the realisation that we haven't got the chequebook way of getting out of trouble. [LNB]"It's just not open to this club. I think that it has needed some re-focus and some direction and hopefully I can do that." [LNB]"The only way open to this club is hard work, commitment, desire and unity and spirit and we have got to be better at all those things than Bolton, Wolves, Portsmouth and all those teams around us. [LNB]"If we are, we'll survive; if we are not we'll go down because a chequebook is not going to be the way out of this." [LNB]Hull will face fellow strugglers West Ham on Humberside this Saturday buoyed by a 2-1 victory over Stoke that enabled Pearson's club to climb out of the relegation zone above the Hammers. [LNB]As Hull prepared for a proverbial relegation six-pointer, Pearson appealed for the fans to rally behind Brown and his players when they lock horns with Gianfranco Zola's side. [LNB]"Obviously the highlight of the two weeks since my return was the performance of the players against Stoke which I thought was tremendous," the former Leeds directors continued. [LNB]"If we show that kind of spirit, commitment and level of performance going forward then we will put ourselves in with a chance of staying up. [LNB]"We desperately need the supporters behind the club, particularly on a match-day and I felt that against Stoke they did that. [LNB]"The way to stay up this season is definitely to have key players available, but also to have the crowd right behind us. [LNB]"People have got to understand that we are in a battle and we are back to being the underdogs." [LNB]
