Fa Barclaycard Premiership News Update

Fa Barclaycard Premiership News
( 10 November 2008 )

English Premiership football News

Hughes safe in job, say Man City
Khaldoon Al Mubarak was President reports claimed Manchester City are set to replace manager Mark Hughes as a "waste".

"We on the board of directors have the utmost respect for Mark," Al Mubarak told the club's official website. "I am personally committed to him."

The 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham on Sunday means Hughes team have now lost their last three top-flight matches.

But Al Mubarak said the money will be available for players in January.

Hughes and Al Mubarak held talks before the match Sunday to discuss long-term plans for the club, the manager should fly to Abu Dhabi to discuss its list of targets at least eleven before the January transfer window .

Al Mubarak said: "Fortunately, I do not read newspapers say that Mark is under pressure but I find it unbelievable.

"I am told that there are reports that we are associated with two different coaches and we are about to sign. It is rubbish.

"This is a winning team through a learning curve now.

"As January is going to be an interesting opportunity for Mark to improve the team, this is an exciting dynasty we build and we are only in the first two months.

"I think people will see when we have a good foundation in place in the team, we have a good coach and we are improving in terms of players. We hope that the results will come."

Hughes, who took over from Sven-Göran Eriksson at Eastland during the summer, saw his team include four wins and seven defeats in the Premier League this season, despite the £ 32.5m signing of Brazilian superstar Robinho.

The club of poor form has prompted speculation that the new owners of Abu Dhabi, United Group, which are supported by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and pushed to its spending power to the top flight, may lose patience with the team's inability to find consistency on the ground.

The group bought the City UK Sports Investments Ltd, which was headed by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
by bbcnews.