Hull City are preparing a massice cull of up to 10 players during the January transfer windown as as new executive chairman Adam Pearson seeks to ease the clubs financial problems.

Pearson officially took up his position as chairman at the KC Stadium on Monday after Paul Duffen quit the role last week following the annoucement that the club is some £27million in debt.

With a annual wage bill of reportedly £40million - amongst the highest in the Premier League - Pearson is ready to get tough in order to get the club back on an even keel, meaning some players will have to be sold.

But with the Tigers already struggling in the relegation zone this season, having won just twice, under pressure manager Phil Brown would be loath to lose some of his squad as he attempts to keep the club in the Premier League for a second consecutive season.

Pearson however, remains determined to make the 'Hull-Cull', with veteran midfielder George Boateng, French full-back Bernard Mendy, Richard Garcia, Peter Halmosi, striker Caleb Folan, Daniel Cousin and Ibrahima Sonko, among the players set to be shown the door.

Hull face a make-or-break clash against Stoke City on Sunday in a match in which should Brown's men fail to win, could see them drop to the foot of the table, as well as end the 50-year-old's reign in charge.