MARK HUGHES will have plenty to build on should he decide to take over from Sven-Goran Eriksson at Manchester City.
Hughes could be installed as early as this week after being given permission to speak with the Eastlands outfit by Blackburn yesterday, hours after Eriksson's departure. With the ambition and wealth of City owner Thaksin Shinawatra not in question,
all that seems to be needed is a belief from Hughes than he can work with the former Prime Minister of Thailand for a deal to be done.
And, while it may seem the Welshman would be inheriting a messy situation, Dave Wallace, editor of the respected King of the Kippax fanzine, feels City are actually in a far healthier state than it initially appears. "We have a European campaign to build on, plus the young players and ones like Elano, Martin Petrov and Vedran Corluka," said Wallace.
"We should be in a position to kick on from here and hopefully Mark Hughes, if that is to be who we get, will do that."
Wallace feels Hughes' first task should be to ease the fears of star names Richard Dunne, Micah Richards, Joe Hart and Michael Johnson, whose futures have been the subject of intense debate since Eriksson's departure, confirmed a couple of hours before permission was given for City to speak with the Manchester United legend.
"We have to hope the new manager comes in and sorts these lads out and ensures they stay."
The full article contains 255 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
