Adam Pearson, the new Hull City chairman, assured supporters yesterday that the club will not be forced to sell their best players to reduce a £40 million wage bill.

Pearson confirmed plans to offload at least 15 players in the January transfer window, but added: “This club is miles away from having to sell the players it wants to keep. The departures I am talking about concern those who are not in the team.”

Pearson also insisted that Hull have nothing to fear from a Premier League investigation into the sale of Michael Turner, the defender, to Sunderland in August. Charlton Athletic and Brentford, the player’s former clubs, have raised concerns over the respective amounts they received from sell-on clauses inserted into the deal.

However, Pearson, in giving details of the transfer, suggested that the club failed to get the best deal from the sale of Turner, who was valued at a potential £12 million during the transfer window.

Paul Duffen, the former chairman, who resigned last week, had refused to disclose the fee Hull received, but Pearson revealed that it was £4 million gross, meaning that they got only £2.8 million after deductions.

“Under no circumstances was it a financial necessity to sell Michael Turner,” Pearson said. “I can only second guess what people were thinking but there was probably a feeling that the player wanted to go and that was the best deal available for him.

“It’s not incremental, the total amount we will receive for Turner is £2.8 million. In light of what we’ve been spending on players, I would suggest that it’s a disappointing return for the player.

“With hindsight, I’m not sure that August 31 was the best time to sell Turner and certainly not at that price.From what I can see, an investigation is wholly unfounded. We’re entirely comfortable, there’s nothing untoward as far as I can see.

“I think the two clubs have seen inflated figures in the press, but the only thing we could be accused of is not maximising the fee at the best possible time.”

Pearson has told Phil Brown, the manager, that he could remain at the club longer than expected, given some winning results. “I’ve had positive discussions with Phil,” Pearson said. “We’ve had a meeting that’s based on going forward over a longer period than one game.

“I’ve a lot of respect for what he has achieved here, but in the last nine months the club has come off the rails a bit and we need to get that focus and direction back. During my previous time here he was second to none and I know he’s still got that within him.”