HUGHES THE ‘BEST MAN’

MARK HUGHES has warned Stoke they won’t find a better boss if they sack him over Christmas.

The under-pressure Welshman (left) claims he is still the best man for the job despite a run of five defeats in their last six matches that has left him fighting for his future.

Stoke host fellow strugglers West Brom today and defeat could see Hughes gone.

But when asked if there was a better manager out there for the club, the 54-year-old said: “Not in my view. No-one knows this group better than me. I have proved over these last four years I can pick up points in the Premier League, I have proved it ever since I have been a manager.

“Familiarity can sometimes be a positive or a negative. You can be viewed with a bit of contempt when you have been around for a long time.

“But I don’t think that’s the case here. We’re just a bit frustrated that the results haven’t been what we expected but it’s within our means to do something about it.”