Duffen has been chairman at Hull City since July 2007

Hull City chairman Paul Duffen has said he is confident the Tigers will win promotion after hitting form with seven league games to go.

The Tigers have won five of their last seven matches to climb to fifth.

Duffen told BBC Radio Humberside: "We've hit a run of form at the right time, the 5-0 win [against Southampton] was exciting but not surprising.

"We've got 62 points, I'd say that 73 will be play-offs, 80 will be second so mathematically it's there to be had."

Humberside Sportstalk: Hull City chairman Paul Duffen

When asked if he thought Hull would go up Duffen simply replied: "I do."

The Hull chairman has seen a steady improvement in Phil Brown's team since the start of the season and said the momentum is all with City going into the business end of the campaign.

"I have an absolutely indelible confidence in the ability of the squad and the set-up and the system," he said.

We might stumble but I honestly do believe its within our grasp and its entirely down to us to make it happen, its absolutely do-able Paul Duffen

"Progress, team spirit, great momentum but absolutely feet on the ground.

"Equally we appreciate what we have available to us, so feet on the ground doesn't mean we are in denial about the opportunity this season."

After targeting a top half finish this season Duffen said he has not been surprised by the club's rise.

"I am delighted but I am definitely not surprised," he said.

"We haven't played anyone in this league this year that has scared me, I don't think we are afraid to play anybody.

"We need some luck, but equally we are now in the situation where everybody at the club is expecting us to win games of football, we are planning for success.

"We might stumble, but I honestly do believe it's within our grasp and it's entirely down to us to make it happen, it's absolutely do-able."

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And if Hull do reach the Premier League Duffen believes they have the infrastructure in place to stay there.

"We have got a contingency plan for playing in the Premier League which has been well thought through," he added.

"Phil has got a great scouting team who have already been putting pencilled names on paper, we know who from the existing squad would be able to play a part in a Premiership campaign.

"We are absolutely capable of retaining Premiership status and the objective would be to finish better than 18th in the first season."