Alan Curbishley is looming large as a target for Hull City after winning his pay-off dispute with West Ham and becoming a free agent.

Curbishley is admired by Tigers owner Russell Bartlett and his availability after the protracted dispute with the Hammers comes at a good time for him but the worst for Phil Brown.

Hull's new executive chairman Adam Pearson could wield the axe if the Tigers suffer another bad defeat at home to Stoke on Sunday.

Brown has managed just four wins from his last 40 league games, although Pearson told the manager during a three-hour meeting that he believes he can turn the club's fortunes around.

 "I've had very positive discussions with Phil. We've had a meeting that's based on going forward over a lot longer period than one game.

 "I don't think either of us would be wasting our time if we thought it was for one game."

Cash-conscious Hull have been making extensive checks on possible replacements in the past few days and many of them are in work and would cost compensation.

Curbishley's reputation as a solid boss who can work on limited budgets appeals to Hull, who know that they have a lot at stake for the rest of the season.

Bartlett is worried about the cost of relegation  and Pearson said: "Results have got to improve, of course, Phil knows that more than anyone. But I've still got a lot of respect for what he has achieved here. It's been an absolutely outstanding period in the club's history.

"The last nine months have seen the club come off the rails a little bit and we all need to get that focus and direction back."