There is growing unrest at West Ham's Upton Park

The Whistle group claims the Hammers face a bleak financial future and have launched a campaign to remove Brown.

But Brown has described the group's allegations as "scurrilous" and says legal action against Whistle spokesman Mike Hanna will protect the club.

"We do not have a financial crisis at West Ham and have not had one at any time since our relegation," Brown said.

The Whistle group failed to win enough support among the club's larger shareholders for an internal coup but has since sought the backing of its lenders to help force Brown out.

Hammers face power struggle

West Ham's debts are thought to be about �50m following relegation from the Premiership - despite them selling most of their star players.

Whistle claims about �20m has been pledged to them by anonymous investors willing to buy into the club via a share issue if major lenders like Barclays Bank can force Brown to step down.

It is prepared to put up to �30m into the club providing the current owners step aside.

But Brown insists there are no problems at the club and that the relationship with Barclays Bank remains strong.

"It is unacceptable that, at such a crucial time in our season, someone should seek to undermine all the hard work of Alan Pardew, the players and our staff," he added.

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"We will be taking legal action against Mr Hanna and other members of the Whistle group to protect the club from these scurrilous allegations.

"May I urge every single fan to ignore this nonsense and back our boys in the remaining two league games and, hopefully, the play-offs.

"This is an unwarranted and unnecessary distraction."

A spokesman for Barclays dismissed claims that the bank is considering intervening.

"West Ham United is a long-standing client of Barclays. We have an excellent relationship with the company," Steve Walton said in a statement.