Neil Ashton, 19/12/2009
MARK HUGHES told Manchester City's shell-shocked stars to "finish the job" during a final dressing room speech last night.
Some of City's players were unaware that the manager would be officially sacked by the club after the game.
In an emotive and powerful speech following the 4-3 victory over Sunderland, he told them they were "a top-four team in the making".
Six players - including Craig Bellamy and Gareth Barry - immediately left the dressing room to demand an explanation from chief executive Garry Cook.
By then it was too late, with City refusing to reverse a decision that has been bubbling since the 1-1 draw with Hull last month.
City released a statement last night confirming that Hughes' final game in charge had been against the Black Cats.
Now Hughes will demand that the final 18 months on his managerial contract is paid up in full.
He was earning around £3million per season with huge bonuses built in for success.
His coaching staff, including assistant manager Eddie Niedzwiecki, coach Mark Bowen and reserve team boss Glyn Hodges will also demand severance pay.
After weeks of uncertainty at the club, Hughes was made aware yesterday morning that Roberto Mancini had agreed to replace him as City's manager.
He immediately took legal advice from the League Managers' Association, who told him to carry on as normal.
He had considered refusing to take charge of the team for the match, but LMA lawyers insisted that he must carry out his managerial duties according to the terms of his contract.
Threat
The City chief had arrived at Eastlands yesterday meaning business - and not just on the field. He believes he has been stabbed in the back by Cook, football administrator Brian Marwood and technical development manager Brian Kidd.
Cook emphatically told Hughes that his job was NOT under threat the day after they drew 1-1 with Hull last month.
In fact, the wheels were already in motion to appoint a new manager and that man is Mancini.
Hughes is disgusted by his treatment, taking charge of the team for the final time yesterday when he knew he was about to be sacked.
He confronted Cook and Marwood before the game, accusing the pair of plotting his removal ever since their arrival at the club. Hughes has certainly been undermined in recent weeks, only discovering that the club were actively seeking a replacement when his assistant Niedzwiecki informed him.
He was finished after that - a sitting duck until City could thrash out personal terms with Mancini.
It was another remarkable day in the life of this crazy club, with boardroom members squirming throughout yesterday's match.
Hughes's wife, Jill, cut a dignified figure in the directors' box, even though it was clear that she knew her husband was about to be sacked.
Despite her gracious manner, it was clear there was no love lost between her and Kidd when he took his seat for the second half.
The pair sit in the same row and she made it perfectly clear that she was not impressed by the rumours that he was about to be appointed assistant to Mancini.
It is another remarkable rise by Kidd, just three months after Hughes sanctioned the appointment of his former United pal.
Now Mancini will pick up the reins, charged with finishing in the top four.
He finds them in sixth place in the Premier League table and in the semi-final of the Carling Cup.
They face Manchester United over two legs next month, just 180 minutes from their first Wembley final since the Simod Cup Final in 1986.
Hughes finally drove away from the stadium late last night with a face like thunder.
Despite Sunderland's latest defeat, Bruce went on the front foot to defend his former playing pal.
He said: "It's a ridiculous decision, but nothing surprises me in football any more.
"It seems everyone knew he was getting sacked and if that's true, then it's worrying. Nothing surprises me.
"Managers go through such a long process to get their coaching badges and then they get so little time to get it right.
"The average is 18 months in the Championship and it's only a bit higher in the Premier League because Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have been around for so long.
"It's unbelievable."
It wasn't for City's supporters, with most of the 40,000 inside the stadium well aware that Hughes would be sacked after the game.
The City chief simply went through the motions in the technical area, barely able to motivate himself. He shook the hands of each player as they walked off the field and then waved to the few supporters who stayed to send him off.
