Post by Macmoish on Jul 10, 2014 8:05:15 GMT
Stoke Sentinel
Stoke City: Mark Hughes proves outside world wrong says Peter Coates
July 10, 2014
STOKE City chairman Peter Coates believes Mark Hughes has now answered his critics and re-established his reputation as a top-class Premier League manager.
And he says neither he nor his son John had any doubts themselves when appointing the Welshman 14 months ago.
But Coates admits the rest of the footballing world might have been sharpening their knives – while Hughes himself was understandably anxious last year when approaching his first job since being sacked by Queens Park Rangers.
"I'm sure he was anxious when he came because things had gone a bit wrong for him and a lot of people were being critical," says Coates, "so he's got to be pleased to have had such a good season with us.
"Maybe people are now realising that he is a good manager after all.
"Mark himself is bound to be feeling a lot better and more confident about things after last season's success, and also for having a year in which to settle himself into a new club.
"But in saying that, we all know next season will not be easy, and I'm sure Mark would be the first to say that. You take nothing for granted in football."
Coates says the chairman/manager relationship is flourishing as the Potters approaches their second campaign under Hughes, below.
He added: "I was always confident about him, as was John, and that is obviously why we took the decision we did to appoint him last year. But in saying that, it is still great to have that point proved.
"We always felt there was a very good manager there and his track record, once you took away a pretty short experience at QPR, showed that. But on top of all this is the added bonus of finding him to be a thoroughly decent person with whom we are enjoying a great working relationship."
The chairman also stressed that relations with former boss Tony Pulis were now healthy again after an inevitable cooling off period following their parting of the ways last year.
Indeed, he and his wife Deirdre were guests of Pulis at the marriage of his youngest daughter in Bournemouth last weekend.
Stoke's first-team squad – minus their four World Cup stars – will spend their first time back at base today after their first day of pre-season took place yesterday at the National Football Centre at St George's Park in Burton-on-Trent for state-of-the-art physical testing.
Newcomers Mame Biram Diouf, Phil Bardsley, Steve Sidwell and Dionatan Tixeira were among those taking part.
Meanwhile, the chances of Monaco's Emmanuel Riviere eventually joining them appear to be receding amid reports in France he is digging his heels in and awaiting a call for his dream move to Arsenal.
The 24-year-old striker, as revealed by The Sentinel in May, had returned to Stoke's radar following earlier interest in January.
Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion are reportedly on his tail too, but all three may have to await Arsenal's next move before they can consider any concerted attempt to entice Riviere to the Premier League.
Read more at www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-Mark-Hughes-proves-outside-world-wrong/story-21442500-detail/story.html#LZQhxQYQCAGSxMSb.99
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-Mark-Hughes-proves-outside-world-wrong/story-21442500-detail/story.html