Hughpocrite
Some of Mark Hughes’ former players might have raised their eyebrows at the ease with which their ex-boss quit Fulham this week.
Hughes resigned from Craven Cottage and is now widely tipped to take up a new position at a ‘bigger’ Premier League club. His matter-of-fact departure to further his career could have the likes of Jason Roberts and Mark Schwarzer scratching their heads.
Take a couple of Hughes quotes as an example:
“We had a request from Jason [Roberts] but I am not letting anyone go. He is just unhappy at not getting a lot of games.”
Keeping his wantaway striker at Blackburn in 2007.
“Sometimes it is not always greener on the other side. I understand that at certain times of their careers players feel that when an opportunity presents itself, they feel they have to consider it very carefully.”
Understanding, but still rejecting Mark Schwarzer’s transfer request to join Arsenal last summer.
Meanwhile, Fulham chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed must think history is repeating itself after Hughes’ exit:
“He [Mark Hughes] has inherited a great team which had fantastic results but unfortunately this guy [Roy Hodgson], after we put him where he is now, he took advantage and left us. But good luck to him, good luck to Liverpool.”
Mohamed Al-Fayed, August 2010
That was Al-Fayed’s response to Mark Hughes’ appointment as Fulham manager in August 2010. He barely needs to tweak his statement and he can put out the same angry statement to mark Sparky’s exit.
Hughes is being linked with the vacant Aston Villa manager’s post, and also as an outsider to take over at his former club Chelsea.
