Hughes appointment confirmed

Manchester City Football Club are today delighted to announce we have agreed terms with Mark Hughes to be our new Manager.

Hughes, 44, will be unveiled at a press conference to be held tomorrow morning. He agreed to move from Blackburn Rovers after meeting with the Club’s new Executive Chairman Garry Cook on Tuesday evening. Mr Cook’s appointment has been confirmed by City Chairman Dr Thaksin Shinawatra and he arrived from the US yesterday to seal the deal.

He has put pen to paper on a three-year contract and takes up his new post with immediate effect.

Mr Cook said, “I am delighted to welcome Mark on board. In our view he is the brightest young manager in the game and he was our number one target for the manager’s job.

“He made it clear to us from the moment we met that he shared our vision and ambition to make Manchester City one of the top sides in the country.

>>mcfc.co.uk

Despite some last minute rumours reportedly suggesting Chelsea were ready to hijack our move for Hughes, things were swiftly concluded today and his appointment rubber stamped this afternoon.

I'll have a more in depth post tomorrow or Friday following the press conference, but initial thoughts are that although the treatment of Sven was shabby, the decision had been taken so we had to move on bring a swift end to the farce of the past six weeks.

I believe Hughes is the best candidate out there, and a far more sensible appointment than the loose canon Scolari would have been. The plaudits have flowed in already since his appointment and he is well regarded in the game, and is known to be an ambitious manager - which it is hoped he is, as given he has signed a three year contract, part of his remit will undoubtedly be to either lift a trophy or achieve Champions League qualification.

It has been interesting to observe the growing influence of Gary Cook - the Executive Chief Executive we lured away from a senior position at Nike, as it appears he had a big role in the selection and appointment of Hughes - and possibly he was the driving force behind the decision to dispense with Sven?

Also something to keep an eye on is what will happen to Alistair Mackintosh - quite well regarded in the industry but not universally liked by fans, as to his role now at the club and also rumors linking him with an appointment at Liverpool or Arsenal.

Mark Hughes profiles:

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