Hull chairman Paul Duffen has hit out at supporters demanding the removal of Phil Brown after the manager's position has come under scrutiny following a poor run of form stretching back to last December.

The Tigers have won just two of their last 28 Barclays Premier League games - a sequence which almost saw them relegated last season and leaves them 19th in the current table.

Calls for Brown to leave have grown in the wake of a disappointing 1-0 loss to Birmingham last weekend and a 4-0 thrashing by Everton in the Carling Cup.

But, having guided the club to the top flight and kept them there, Brown is the most successful manager in the club's history and Duffen is sticking by him.

Duffen told BBC Radio Humberside: "It is pathetic. The Premier League season is six games in.

"The squad is good, this is a manager - and coaching staff - that has delivered this football to this city, that has proven he can take a side from the bottom of the Championship to the top of the Premier League.

"I think it is absolutely despicable that people go to a game of football and start shouting at the manager.

"I don't understand. I would have thought wanting the club to win and doing everything they can to help the club win is the main objective of every supporter."

Duffen insists sacking Brown is not even on the agenda.

He added: "The only objective as far as I am concerned is to work as hard as I can to help the football club succeed.

"That doesn't mean when the going gets tough you start executing people, running around in panic mode.

"You keep your head, you work hard and harder if possible to support the club.

"Staying in the Premier League is our only objective but if we are going through a period when it is proving tough, all I would expect from anybody who supports the club is get behind it and support it."

Hull face a daunting trip to Liverpool this weekend but then face vital games against Wigan, Portsmouth, Fulham and Burnley in October.