[Archived] Nicko's Thread Part 3

[tony gale's mic]

what will be interesting,is when Hughes doesnt get the job at City what his relationship will be like,with JW,the fans,and the players.The board has backed him(okay not financially)but have been a good provider,and gave him a stable platform to work with.The players and fans have taken to the guy,and like somebody mentioned,if he went to Chelsea,we would wish him well..However,the fact that he wants to speak to City,smacks of something else,that has money written all over it,whether personally,or money wanted to sepnd big on players.

i get the feeling if City chooses somebody else,and chelsea doesnt take hughes,then there will be huge unrest within the club.JW did mention the board "reluctantly" agreed to allow him to have talks.I just get the feeling that if Hughes is at the club at the start of the season,we going to have a really uneasy time of things,untill it all settles down...

For this reason,i hope things getted sorted out as soon as possible,either he goes and we replace quickly,or he makes up his mind and stays,and gets on with his job

City won't choose somebody else, Sparky is their first choice. Unless Thaksin puts some ridiculous terms on the table to Hughes that he won't accept, he's as good as gone.

[modes98]

2] he doesn't take his coaching staff with him. ?

I'm not sure there is much point in keeping them unless we were to promote Bowen. A new manager would want his own backroom team in anyway. The best point is that if he wants them all then Man City will have to pay for every last one!

If he goes to Chelsea i can't see him taking the majority of them as they already have a pretty packed staff list.

[nicko]

I agree he's trying to force Chelsea's hand but City is not necessarily a complete bluff. OK we finished above City in the League but unlike us they are in the UEFA Cup next season.

No, it's not a complete bluff. However he would prefer Chelsea obviously. If they do not offer him the job today then he will probably have to take Man City.

Like I said, he's making Chelsea decide by this action.

[percy]

Those terms and conditions:- could they include that

1] he doesn't come back for any of our players

2] he doesn't take his coaching staff with him. ?

I think 2] will happen anyway, he's assembled quite a useful team and they'll be off with him straight away. If we try and refuse I expect they'll just resign and join him regardless. Hopefully, JW can ensure that a compo package covers this eventuality. No doubt the new gaffer'll want his own people too.

As for 1], I hope so. It's RSC that I'm worried about the most, he'd be ideal for City with some of their creative midfielders. Let's hope JW makes it very clear it's 'hands off' if he comes back looting!

[Hughesy]

Just noticed the news - my reaction - Gutted and annoyed that he would take the City job. Chelsea I can understand, City - United's biggest rival? Just cant understand it!

[Iceman]

i disagree Nicko,i think if City gave him good terms,offered him some huge financial package,told him ill give you 50 mill to spend,he will go.I think he reckons City is a step up,when its no where close.Nicko do you honestly think,Hughes would allow himself to use city as Bait,to force Chelsea's hand?even if that was the case,Chelsea still seems way to uncertain of what they want,or who they want,whereas City seems to know that Hughes is the man for them....That is why the longer Chelsea's ego maniac hieracrchy squabble over who they want,City would have snapped up Hughes

[Mozzer]

i didnt think mark hughes was the sort of manager who would like to work with a chairman who interferes-this clearly happens at man city and chelsea..

i thought mark hughes was an ambitious manager-but going man city only proves he wants one thing-he wants transfer money..

we have to hope he does a harry redknapp-goes for talks and doesnt like what he hears and thinks hes better off staying..

[b12_simon]

Just noticed the news - my reaction - Gutted and annoyed that he would take the City job. Chelsea I can understand, City - United's biggest rival? Just cant understand it!

One word: Europe

[Ewood and I Would]

Let's not forget Harry Redknapp spoke to Newcastle, turned them down and went on to win a cup with Pompey and it hasn't affected his relationship with the fans.

If this whole things doesn't work (I agree this is to force Chelsea's hand) I can see Hughes saying "I felt thet Rovers have given me the platform and couldn't leave, I'm building here etc" and that will be enough for most...

The one thing no one has picked up on yet is that if he does to City it would massively dent his chances of taking over at Man U one day; doesn't seem right to me

[Hughesy]

Europe? Thats a poor excuse. City wont be in Europe for long unless they spend big bucks!

[Ewood and I Would]

Oh and it really annoys me that Hughes has made all these tough statements about bentley recently about how he is contracted and it's up to us etc but as soon as the boot's on the other foot he's begging JW to speak to City.

[RovertheHill]

Living in Manchester quite a few of my City supporting mates have sent me emails saying they hate him and are gutted that he's in the frame

[USABlue]

Good interview with Hughes here

Lot of what ifs in there made to seem like facts regarding the Man City job.

Reading that makes it sound like it's a done deal.

[RibbleValleyRover]

we have to hope he does a harry redknapp-goes for talks and doesnt like what he hears and thinks hes better off staying..

But then that puts Williams and the board in a bad position. What happens if Hughes ends up staying and another job comes up in mid season, Hughes will be linked to it and Hughes may again ask for talks. This could lead to disharmony in the club, lead to us having a really bad season in the league and the fans won't know what the hell is going on or might happen.

It puts Williams in a really hard position, does he sack Hughes or does he keep him if Chelsea don't make an approach and thus Hughes turns down City.

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Over on 606 they are gutted and think they are up for a relegation scrap.

[Iceman]

dont think he begged JW,to speak to them...i just feel a little sick,knowing that he is even talking to City....

[RibbleValleyRover]

Over on 606 they are gutted and think they are up for a relegation scrap.

If we don't get it right and if we lose all our best players likes Roque we very well could be.

[b12_simon]

Europe? Thats a poor excuse. City wont be in Europe for long unless they spend big bucks!

I imagine Frank's offering big bucks as well.

[Sandiway Blue]

My opinion is Hughes has been told by Chelsea`s top men apart from Abramovich that he is a cert for the job and that is why he is flirting with Thaksins clueless mob to force Abramovich into a decision.

Abramovich clearly listens to his top men and values their opinion very much but is torn between the `glam` name of Scolari or the vastly `underrated` (as far as the world stage is concerned) Sparky.

If i had the money i would lay against Hughes getting the Citeh job until the cows came home.

I also think backing Hughes for the Chelsea job is as close to a safe bet as you can get.

[USABlue]

I'm going to go out on a limb, put on my helmet and stick to the line I've been preaching for the past season...this could be a huge blessing in disguise for us.

Save this so you can tell be again about this "blessing" next April or May

[LDRover]

I'd love to go back and find all those people who said Hughes would not be interested in City, Tottenham etc....

Players and managers don't love the club like we do. They also can't achieve what they want to achieve at Ewood in certain cases.

If it happens lets move on.

Exactly. I remember being lambasted for saying he would go to Newcastle if he was offered the job.

[novella]

If we don't get it right and if we lose all our best players likes Roque we very well could be.

On the other hand we could get someone in whos capable of taking us to the next level. assuming hughes goes (5 or so mill compensation ) and bentley goes (15 mill). That leaves us with around 30 million to spend this summer. I have faith in the chairman getting this decision spot on.

[Mozzer]

the way both chelsea and man city owners have treated sven goran eriksson and avram grant for me was pathetic-if mark hughes wants to work for a chairman like that then fine-maybe hughes should look at how eriksson was treated-despite doing a decent job he still gets sacked..

and for me the only reason why mark hughes will go man city is to have transfer funds.

[bonerdude]

nicko....any betting odds on who next rovers manager will be....

[nicko]

Let's do the maths here...

Man City want Mark Hughes who would take his backroom team. Total cost of compo...£5 million or so.

Hughes would want more money than he currently has to spend at Rovers...£10 million plus.

Hughes would also want a salary of around £3 million-a-year. This is similar to Sven's, so that does not enter the equation.

So Shinawatra has to find £15 million plus - up front - at a time when he is selling players to raise funds.

Shinawatra has tried and failed to close deals for Jo and Dos Santos in the past week. In loan deals.

There might just be a shock for old Sparky when he sits down with the Thai and his people.