Manchester City's owners have stressed their commitment to Mark Hughes following media speculation that the manager's days at Eastlands may be numbered in the light of recent poor results.

The club's chairman, Khaldoon al-Mubarak, dismissed rumours that Hughes was facing the sack as "rubbish" and promised that the Welshman would have plenty of funds available to strengthen the team in the January transfer window. City have slipped to 13th in the Premier League after yesterday's 1-2 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur, their seventh league loss of the season.

"We are calm and under control, and we on the board have the highest regard for Mark," said Mubarak after the first meeting of the new City board. "This is a winning team that is going through a learning curve right now. While January is going to be an interesting opportunity for Mark to improve the team, this is an exciting 10-year dynasty that we are building and we are only in the first two months.

"Thankfully I do not read the newspapers that are saying [Hughes] is under pressure but I find it incredible. Just today I am told that there are reports that we are associated with two different coaches and that we are about to sign them.

"It is rubbish. I am committed to Mark and his team and I think people will see in January that we have good foundations in place in the team, we have a good coach and we will be upgrading in terms of players. Hopefully the results will come."