Chris can’t see a Bright future

CHRIS HUGHTON says no manager can afford to have a vision for the future these days – even at a well-run club like Brighton. Hughton takes the Seagulls to Newcastle today where he was sacked mid-season by Toon owner Mike Ashley in 2010, months after winning them promotion to the top flight.

Roll on eight years and Hughton looks very comfortable at Brighton, where he has the full backing of owner Tony Bloom and where he signed a new three-year contract in May. But Hughton said: “I can tell you even here at Brighton I don’t have a vision.

“My job is to do the best I can to make sure we get results.

“A club and owner will always have a philosophy of the way they want the club run and the direction they want the club to go in.

“But as a manager you work from day to day.

“That’s changed over the years. It’s now more about thinking short term for managers. The change in ownership at clubs has brought a “In football, everyone wants to win but everyone can see the problems before the start of the season and once it starts, everyone is talking tactics, players, substitutions and the like.

“But we cannot forget what happened before and our fans, they know and understand where we are.”

Benitez takes encouragement from Newcastle’s game at Old Trafford, even though they lost a two-goal lead against Manchester United.

“For 70 minutes, we were the better team,” he said.

“That is the positive and we have to replicate that.” different mentality and it makes managers think differently because the turnover has been massive.

“So, you have to secure results and success now.”

Hughton, however, does not expect to see Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez sacked after taking only two points from the opening eight games of the season.

“They’ve stuck by the manager because he’s done a good job,” he added.

“Newcastle United supporters appreciate the wonderful job Rafa has done there.

“It’s been a difficult start for them but they will turn it around.”