Hughes takes over at City

Former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes has been appointed as the new manager of Manchester City. He replaces Sven-Goran Eriksson, sacked by City owner Thaksin Shinawatra earlier this week.

Blackburn Rovers have given their former manager their best wishes. Club chairman John Williams said, ‘We have enjoyed a first class, mutually beneficial relationship with Mark. He leaves the club in a strong position with three consecutive top ten finishes and an excellent squad of players. In turn, we have helped Mark to establish himself as one of the most sought after young British managers in the business, having previously had no club management experience. We wish him well. We would have liked him to stay on, but he made it clear he wanted a fresh challenge.’

Former Bolton Wanderers manager ‘Big’ Sam Allardyce is the bookmakers’ favourite to take over at Ewood Park.