Pearson moves to allay Hull supporters' fears over wages shortfall

ADAM PEARSON has moved to reassure Hull City fans that the club's likely failure to substantially slash the wage bill in January will not threaten the club's viability.

The Tigers had been hoping to cut their 38.9m salary budget by a quarter by off-loading a host of fringe players during the transfer window.

However, despite putting prospective deals to several of Phil Brown's squad, the only likely movement out of the KC Stadium will involve Nathan Doyle, who joined Barnsley earlier this month, and Bryan Hughes with Hull confident of agreeing a deal to pay up the final six months of the latter's contract.

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It means Hull, whose debts stand at around 9m, will have to cover the burdensome wage bill in its entirety before reassessing the situation in the summer.

Pearson admits it is not an ideal scenario but is quick to stress the club have contingency plans in place to ensure their future is not threatened.

He said: "It has been one of those windows where everything has been very, very quiet. I have never known anything quite like it since the transfer window was brought in.

"The top four have not spent any money and when that happens it means there is nothing filtering down.

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"We would have liked to move players on but that has not proved to be possible. Either the moves put to the players have not been ones they want or the interested clubs have not been able to afford them.

"All we can do is bat on for the next four or five months. Then, once we are at the end of the season, what happens next will be dependent on what division we are in.

"I want to stress to supporters that the club can cope. It is not a problem and there is no threat to the business.

"Obviously, decisions will have to be taken during the summer but let's see what division we are in before we make those decisions."

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Pearson's confidence in Hull being able to cope with the current bloated wage bill has been illustrated by his determination to hold on to Stephen Hunt.

Wolves increased their offer to 4m earlier this week only to be rebuffed for a third time by the Tigers, who see Hunt as a key member of their survival push.

The West Midlands club have until 5pm on Monday to try to alter Hull's thinking but Pearson last night vowed to do all he can to hold on to the five-goal Republic of Ireland international.

He added: "It would take a huge offer to prise Stephen from us."

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With the hoped for exodus of fringe players having failed to materialise, Hull may now look to cover a shortfall in maintaining a squad of around 25 players by taking out loans.

Come the summer, their outgoings will then be significantly reduced by the loan deals of Jozy Altidore and Ibrahima Sonko from Villarreal and Stoke City respectively coming to an end, saving the club around 2m a year.

George Boateng and Tony Warner will also be out of contract, while it is understood Bernard Mendy has an agreement that could see him leave on a free to find a new club.