By Paul Fletcher

Next season we want to establish Hull in the middle of the division Adam Pearson

Hull chairman Adam Pearson is predicting a bright future for the club after surviving a difficult first season in the Championship.

The Tigers, currently 18th in the table, are now assured of safety and Pearson told BBC Sport: "It is a fantastic achievement to stay up.

"We knew it would be a difficult season and unfortunately we have had so many key players out for so long

"But boss Peter Taylor and I feel quite confident that we can go on from here."

Pearson has already discussed spending plans with Taylor and although he expects new faces to arrive in the summer, he does not expect to see anything too radical.

"We have managed to secure safety relatively early so we can sit down now and start planning for next season," added Pearson.

"The manager feels quite strongly that when we have our injured players back, the squad just needs two, three or four new faces in to supplement what we have got."

Pearson claims that it has been a "significant step up" for the club after winning promotion in successive seasons.

But, after hovering in the lower reaches of the table for most of the season, a record of just one defeat in their last seven games has not only seen Hull secure their Championship status but convinced Pearson the club are coming to terms with the division.

"The players are that bit more experienced and know what this division is all about," said the chairman.

"The resources that clubs have in the Championship make it a difficult and competitive league. The difference between 7th and 17th is currently nine points.

The manager does not want a massively imbalanced squad in terms of wages Adam Pearson on Peter Taylor

"Our wage bill next season will be circa �4.5m and with that we will be able to compete."

Pearson was the commercial director at Leeds before moving to Hull in 2001.

Hull recently defeated Leeds, who are still hoping to regain their Premiership status after massive overspending led to their spectacular fall from grace.

And Pearson is determined that Hull's ambitions will not be achieved at the expense of sound financial management.

"We don't want the club to get into trouble and the manager does not want a massively imbalanced squad in terms of wages," he said.

"That ties into my way of running a football club.

"If we can be mid-table next season, between 10th and 14th, I think that would be considerable progress and it would mean that we are above a lot of big clubs.

"You can always flirt with the play-offs then and keep that dream alive as long as possible, but realistically we don't see that as part of the development for Hull next season.