ADUG are perfectly entitled to have their doubts, they stuck with him after an extremely average first season, and I'd not be surprised if some of what's happened this season unnerved them somewhat. After a frustrating, bizarre run of results against poor teams where we committed every footballing sin in the book (shipped goals, surrendered leads at home, never got it together as a team), we had slipped down the table continuously since September. Wednesday was a huge game, and Hughes made a complete hash of it.
Let's be clear about it, if you decide the best course of action is to change manager, there is no 'nice' way to do it.
It's unpleasant to watch. Distasteful to see someone have their authority taken away from them, especially when they might, only might, have turned it around.
But if it's what you think needs to happen, this is the price you pay.
Let them talk. We don't know what happened, and why. What matters is how things are handled from here on. It is a huge opportunity to bring in some fantastic young players from europe, to tighten our defence and really build for the future. To get back to a definite style of football, and some tactical sanity.
So feel sorry for Hughes, he showed his dignity again today and has been shafted.
But don't attack the owners or the board, just yet. Give them the chance to prove they know what they are doing. Don't listen to the sentimental, mawkish bullshit the media will spin about this. Hughes was given an astonishing opportunity, and while he didn't fail outright, he didn't make the job his own. He was always going to be under pressure, he needed to do better than 'OK'. It's not fair, not remotely, but it's what happens when an astonishing opportunity is given to you.
