Hull City's head of football operations, Adam Pearson, has been sacked but the owners Assem and Ehab Allam have still refused to confirm whether or not manager Nick Barmby has been suspended.

Pearson, 47, who spent six years as chairman of the club from 2001, has had his consultancy role terminated "without notice and without compensation".

The Allams refused to respond to speculation on Monday night that Barmby had been suspended for comments made about the club's financial situation, and have still left the club's fans in the dark as to the 38-year-old's future.

A club statement issued on Tuesday morning read: "When we acquired the football club we made it clear we would run it in accordance with sound and proper business principles and procedures. We have not and will not deviate from those principles.

"Therefore although we fully appreciate the supporters' and media's desire for information we cannot comment on the manager's position at the present time. We will, however, provide further information when we are able to do so.

"Having listened to media speculation today over funds not being available in the January transfer window, we reiterate that funds were available as previously stated by us.

"We also confirm the club has terminated the consultancy agreement with Adam Pearson without notice and without compensation.

"We are also aware of speculation about the club being up for sale. We can categorically confirm there is no truth in that rumour and we are fully committed to Hull City and its future."

Pearson said in a statement: "I wish to register my extreme surprise and disappointment at the sudden, and in my view totally unjustified, termination of my agreement.

"I had very much been looking forward to assisting in the development of a successful Hull City squad this summer. I have enjoyed my association with the club and wish them success in the future.

"This matter is now in the hands of my lawyers and I will be making no further comment until it is resolved to my satisfaction."

Barmby has insisted on several occasions in recent weeks that team strengthening will be vital during the summer if Hull are to mount a serious promotion challenge next season, and that he would be expecting financial support from the board.

Pearson quit as Leeds United's commercial director in 2001 to buy Hull and take over as chairman while they were in administration and languishing at the bottom end of the old Third Division.

In July 2007 he resigned to make way for a new owner, Paul Duffen, but returned to the club as chairman again in November 2009 and then became head of football operations under another new owner, Russell Bartlett, after the club had been relegated from the Premier League in the summer of 2010. Pearson stayed on in his role when the Allam family took control from Bartlett in November 2010.