Under-fire Hughes hangs on for cup tie

Mark Hughes is set to take charge of Stoke’s FA Cup tie against Coventry this weekend, but his future at the relegation-threatened side is hanging in the balance.

Stoke are reluctantly weighing up whether to dismiss Hughes after a torrid run of results, though the lack of potential successors is complicating the hierarchy’s next move, after talks yesterday.

Hughes has lost seven of the past 10 Premier League games, and his position is now under serious threat after the 1-0 home defeat by Newcastle, two days after he fielded a weakened team at Chelsea. Last night’s set of Premier League results, including a comeback win for West Ham, saw Stoke drop into the bottom three.

Peter Coates, the chairman, and his influential son John, who is vice-chairman, will, along with chief executive Tony Scholes, make the decision, as the Staffordshire club deliberate over their first midseason sacking since 1998.

Stoke were determined to give Hughes until the summer before assessing whether to take the club in a different direction. However, results and performances are forcing them to contemplate a decision they had hoped to avoid.

Hughes is expected to be in charge for the FA Cup tie at the League Two promotion hopefuls on Saturday and is scheduled to attend a recruitment meeting tomorrow. But there is a growing sense that the Welshman’s 4½-year reign is coming to an end.

Midfielder Charlie Adam has defended Hughes and insisted he can pull the club away from the relegation zone. “I think he’s done a great job,” said Adam. “He’s transformed this club, and hopefully he gets the opportunity to take us to the end of the season.

“We can turn this around. We have got characters in the dressing room.”