Hughes accepts Blackburn role
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Article summary
Mark Hughes will stand down as Wales coach in October after being appointed manager of Blackburn Rovers FC.
Article body
Mark Hughes will stand down as Wales coach following next month's FIFA World Cup qualifiers after accepting an offer to become Blackburn Rovers FC manager with immediate effect.
England next
The 40-year-old Hughes will be in charge of Blackburn for the Premiership visit of Portsmouth FC on Saturday, but has been given permission to coach Wales against England at Old Trafford and Poland in Cardiff in early October before giving up his role with the national team. Wales drew their opening Group 6 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Northern Ireland
Leading clubs
Blackburn, whose previous manager Graeme Souness left for Newcastle United FC last week, issued a statement last night which read: "Blackburn announce that Mark Hughes has been appointed manager with immediate effect." A playing career which took in some of Europe's leading clubs ended at Blackburn in 2002 when Hughes retired to concentrate on leading Wales.
