A STOKE THROUGH THE HEART
They’ve airbrushed me out says Hughes
MARK HUGHES hit back at Stoke owner Peter Coates by accusing him of ‘airbrushing’ out his achievements.
Potters chief Coates released a statement following Stoke’s relegation to the Championship, claiming Hughes should have been sacked earlier.
But Southampton manager Hughes, who led Stoke to three consecutive top-10 finishes, said: “Hindsight’s a wonderful thing. It was a difficult season and I am a little disappointed.
“I was there four-and-a-half years and it seems that certain people want to airbrush the success that we had. It’s there for all to see. I was their most successful Premier League manager.
“It didn’t end like I wanted but I and everybody on my staff put heart and soul into that job for four-and-a-half years, and I’m really sorry that unfortunately they’ve gone out of the league.
“But it can happen to anybody if you take your eye off the ball.” Hughes has restored his own reputation by leading Saints to Premier League survival – barring a freak set of results on the final day of the season tomorrow. They would have to lose heavily at home to champions Manchester City and Swansea beat Stoke with a 10-goal swing in order for the south coast side to go down.
Hughes said: “We have the ability to make sure we get the job done. Would we be adversely affected if certain news started to filter through? I’m not sure. We are all human.
“You need to be conscious of the situation in games of different significance so it’s not something we will ignore. If it’s information we need to know, we will use it.”
Hughes is set to hold talks with the Saints board next week about signing a three-year contract.
The Welshman said: “It’s a very good club. It’s a well-run club and it’s a good opportunity for whoever wants it. You see what’s in place here to allow the players to move forward in terms of success.
“I am a professional football manager, that is what I do, and clearly I want to be able to keep working.
“It’s something that I would be open to in terms of having discussions but the club might have a different view. We will have to wait and see.
“It doesn’t need a great deal of change.
“There are a group of players here who want to get better, who have the capability to get better.
“You anticipate some players will go but other players will come in to try to enhance the group. That happens at every club and will happen here and you just hope that process goes well.”