The club's poor form this term has inevitably seen scrutiny fall on Brown, and new chairman Adam Pearson has offered him no public job assurances beyond Sunday's game against Stoke.

But Olofinjana - brought to the club by Brown from Stoke in the summer - wants the manager to know the squad are battling with him.

"It is a club thing," the Nigerian said.

"Phil Brown has got his own faults, he has got his improvements to make, but as players we all have.

"We are paid heavily to do a job. Getting results is not only down to the manager, it is down to us as well."

Hull are struggling in the bottom three of the Premier League ahead of the crucial visit of Olofinjana's former club.

Form has completely evaporated with the Tigers having won just twice this season - and only three times in 33 league games stretching back to last December.

With tough games against Everton and Manchester City coming up later in the month, the Stoke game is seen as vital not only for the points tally but as a gauge of Brown's popularity.

Some sections of support have started to turn against the club's most successful manager and with changes inevitable under Pearson, Brown needs a fan-pleasing result.

"It can only get better from here," Olofinjana, 29, said.

"We come to training every day with smiles on our faces and a belief we can get some points. It is going to happen.

"It is ticking away, we know that, and the earlier we start the better.

"We just need to scrap points out and confidence comes with points.

"When you have confidence you can do the things you have the abilities to do.

"It doesn't matter how we win on Sunday. We just need to get a win."

Olofinjana failed to establish himself in Tony Pulis' Stoke side last season and has no regrets about leaving despite joining a struggling side.

"Not one per cent," he said. "I am very happy I came here.

"I have enjoyed every bit of it but for our position in the table - but that can only improve."

Team-mate Craig Fagan, who could be back in contention to face Stoke, believes none of the squad will be affected by the recent upheaval at the KC Stadium.

One of Pearson's first tasks is to cut a damaging £36million annual wage bill and it has been suggested a number of players could be offloaded in January.

But Fagan expects players to be concentrating on duties on the pitch rather than thinking about their futures.

The striker said: "Speculation happens but it just makes people more positive going into the game, wanting to get a win for the club.

"I don't think the lads are affected by that.

"My contract is here until the end of next season, so it doesn't affect me whatsoever.

"We're all in it together. If it takes 15 players to keep Hull in the Premier League or 35, I don't think the fans will be moaning. It doesn't matter how big the squad is."

Fagan has been restricted to Carling Cup and reserve team appearances since giving away a penalty in the defeat at Sunderland on September 12.

He now looks likely to come back in from the cold with playmaker Geovanni suspended after his sending off at Burnley last week.

"I've just trained, got on with it and hopefully done enough now to get myself back involved," the 26-year-old said.

Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill is also out with a knee injury but Jimmy Bullard could make his long-awaited home debut.

The £5million midfielder has missed two games with a shin problem since returning from a nine-month knee injury lay-off at Fulham on October 19.