Hull City chairman Paul Duffen is confident manager Phil Brown won't be tempted by the vacant Sunderland job.

He told the Hull Daily Mail: "I don't think there's any club that Phil would leave Hull City to manage at this moment in time."

Referring to the duo's ambitious plans to create a purpose-built academy, he added: "If people are linking Phil with Sunderland, it shows how little they understand about what's going on at Hull City. He's started on a journey where he is fulfilling dreams.

"He's got the chance in front of him that very few people have and that is to create a big football club.

"The speculation is inevitable because he comes from the north-east of England and we're sixth in the Premier League. It's one of those things."