Paul Duffen admits he took a gamble when appointing Phil Brown at Hull City Football Club.

The former Tigers coach was appointed as manger when Phil Parkinson was axed in December 2006, and he has responded by leading them to third place in the Premier League against all odds.

"When Phil Brown took over after Phil Parkinson it could have been a bit of a hospital pass," Duffen told the Daily Mirror. "But he has done an amazing job and I would hope other clubs are looking at Phil.

"He is very good at his job. I absolutely believe Phil Brown will manage a big club. But the wonderful thing about the situation at Hull City is that he can do more than that - he can create a big club.

"That is where Phil's ambitions lie in the immediate future. He has just signed a new contract and he is happy here. We are riding our luck but the more we do, it is less about luck."