Titch
03-06-2008, 05:01 PM
Man City close in on Hughes deal.
Manchester City have agreed a compensation package with Blackburn for Rovers manager Mark Hughes - but are yet to speak to the Welshman.
Blackburn gave Hughes permission to speak to City on Monday after the Eastlands club indicated they wanted him to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.
BBC Sport understands representatives of City are now in contact with Hughes.
Hughes is also believed to be on Chelsea's shortlist as a successor to Avram Grant, who was sacked on 24 May.
City's approach has alerted Hughes's admirers within the Chelsea hierarchy.
The City powerbrokers had hoped to do a swift deal to appoint Hughes as owner Thaksin Shinawatra moves to end unrest among supporters at the departure of Eriksson.
But once word of City's move for Hughes leaked out, Chelsea recognised the possibility of missing out on a manager who has admirers within the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.
Chelsea are waiting in the wings and could yet scupper a potential move to Eastlands if they make an official approach to Blackburn.
A statement on Blackburn's website said: "Rovers can confirm they have reached an agreement with Manchester City on compensation terms for Mark Hughes.
"As a consequence Manchester City have been given permission to speak to Mark."
If Hughes does not take over at Eastlands, BBC Sport believes sacked Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini may then figure in City's thinking.
He had cordial relations with City even before the appointment of his close confidante Eriksson as manager last summer, while his 17-year-old son, Filippo, joined City's youth academy on loan from Inter in January.
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But Hughes is City's preferred option, even though the name of Fenerbahce coach Zico has also been thrown into the mix of names under consideration to succeed Eriksson.
The Welshman has guided Rovers into Europe twice, but recently indicated his long-term ambitions might not be satisfied at Ewood Park.
A Blackburn statement on Monday said City had made an approach to talk to Hughes.
"Mark has made it clear to the board he would like the opportunity to talk to Manchester City," it said.
"In view of this, the board have decided reluctantly to give permission subject to terms and conditions acceptable to Blackburn Rovers being agreed with Manchester City in advance."
Former Wales boss Hughes has impressed during his three-and-a-half year spell at Ewood Park, guiding Rovers to seventh in the Premier League last season.
He also led the club to its first FA Cup semi-final in 40 years in 2004 and another in 2007.
Earlier this year, the former Manchester United and Chelsea striker was one of the front-runners to succeed Sam
Hughes succeeded Graeme Souness and assistant Saunders at Blackburn in September 2004 when the pair moved to Newcastle.
Saunders said: "Man City will not be run like Blackburn and Sparky will realise that if he goes there."
"I had a shock going to Newcastle. Graeme took a risk going there but you don't realise how well Blackburn is run until you've left.
"Mark has done well and taken the club into Europe a couple of times by finishing seventh twice.
"But that is because of how it's run and because the chairman and the directors are very stable people. "Mark will have the same problem at Man City that we had at Newcastle and he'll realise it should he get there."
Manchester City have agreed a compensation package with Blackburn for Rovers manager Mark Hughes - but are yet to speak to the Welshman.
Blackburn gave Hughes permission to speak to City on Monday after the Eastlands club indicated they wanted him to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.
BBC Sport understands representatives of City are now in contact with Hughes.
Hughes is also believed to be on Chelsea's shortlist as a successor to Avram Grant, who was sacked on 24 May.
City's approach has alerted Hughes's admirers within the Chelsea hierarchy.
The City powerbrokers had hoped to do a swift deal to appoint Hughes as owner Thaksin Shinawatra moves to end unrest among supporters at the departure of Eriksson.
But once word of City's move for Hughes leaked out, Chelsea recognised the possibility of missing out on a manager who has admirers within the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.
Chelsea are waiting in the wings and could yet scupper a potential move to Eastlands if they make an official approach to Blackburn.
A statement on Blackburn's website said: "Rovers can confirm they have reached an agreement with Manchester City on compensation terms for Mark Hughes.
"As a consequence Manchester City have been given permission to speak to Mark."
If Hughes does not take over at Eastlands, BBC Sport believes sacked Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini may then figure in City's thinking.
He had cordial relations with City even before the appointment of his close confidante Eriksson as manager last summer, while his 17-year-old son, Filippo, joined City's youth academy on loan from Inter in January.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif
But Hughes is City's preferred option, even though the name of Fenerbahce coach Zico has also been thrown into the mix of names under consideration to succeed Eriksson.
The Welshman has guided Rovers into Europe twice, but recently indicated his long-term ambitions might not be satisfied at Ewood Park.
A Blackburn statement on Monday said City had made an approach to talk to Hughes.
"Mark has made it clear to the board he would like the opportunity to talk to Manchester City," it said.
"In view of this, the board have decided reluctantly to give permission subject to terms and conditions acceptable to Blackburn Rovers being agreed with Manchester City in advance."
Former Wales boss Hughes has impressed during his three-and-a-half year spell at Ewood Park, guiding Rovers to seventh in the Premier League last season.
He also led the club to its first FA Cup semi-final in 40 years in 2004 and another in 2007.
Earlier this year, the former Manchester United and Chelsea striker was one of the front-runners to succeed Sam
Hughes succeeded Graeme Souness and assistant Saunders at Blackburn in September 2004 when the pair moved to Newcastle.
Saunders said: "Man City will not be run like Blackburn and Sparky will realise that if he goes there."
"I had a shock going to Newcastle. Graeme took a risk going there but you don't realise how well Blackburn is run until you've left.
"Mark has done well and taken the club into Europe a couple of times by finishing seventh twice.
"But that is because of how it's run and because the chairman and the directors are very stable people. "Mark will have the same problem at Man City that we had at Newcastle and he'll realise it should he get there."