'I don't do relegation,' says under-fire Stoke boss Mark Hughes ahead of their massive clash with West Ham Under Mark Hughes, Stoke have won just three of their last 15 league matches The club's hierarchy have not held any discussions about the Welshman’s future Hughes launched a defence of his record ahead of their clash with West Ham Stoke boss said: 'I’ve never been near (relegation) so I’m not going to start now' By Joe Bernstein and Steve Madeley For The Daily Mail PUBLISHED: 22:30, 14 December 2017 | UPDATED: 22:30, 14 December 2017 Stoke manager Mark Hughes responded defiantly to his critics on Thursday night and told fans calling for his head: ‘I don’t do relegation’. Hughes launched a staunch defence of his managerial record as he prepares for a massive home game against West Ham on Saturday. Just three wins from Stoke’s last 15 league games have left Hughes facing the biggest challenge of his four-year reign, yet the Stoke hierarchy have not held any discussions regarding the Welshman’s future, indicating he will be given at least until the end of the year to turn results around. please log in to view this image Mark Hughes has defended his managerial record and told critics: ‘I don’t do relegation' please log in to view this image Defeat by Burnley on Tuesday means Stoke have now won three of their last 15 league matches The club have no desire to hit the panic button, with the team’s performance in Tuesday night’s narrow 1-0 defeat at Burnley regarded as encouraging. Obvious replacements for Hughes like Sam Allardyce, David Moyes and Alan Pardew have all recently been appointed to other clubs while there is no appetite to rehire former manager Tony Pulis despite his continued friendship with chairman Peter Coates. Hughes claims he is a better bet than any of the ‘firefighters’ who would be considered to replace him. ‘I don’t do relegation,’ he said. ‘There are a lot of managers who have a badge of honour that they’ve never been relegated. please log in to view this image The under-fire boss said: 'I’ve never been near (relegation) so I’m not going to start now, am I?’ ‘I’ve never been relegated because I’m too busy trying to get in top 10s. I’ve never been near it so I’m not going to start now, am I?’ Stoke sit 15th in the table with four defeats from their last five games but last season’s 13th-place finish was the only time in nine complete seasons as a Premier League manager that Hughes has failed to make the top 10. ‘Everybody has experienced periods where it’s not going as well as you’d hoped,’ he said. ‘I’m very fortunate, I don’t feel I take any issues surrounding work into my home life and I’m grateful for that ability because I know there are many managers who aren’t able to do that. ‘I think that’s why I’ve had the longevity that I’ve had in this game because I’ m able to deal with it.’ Hughes insists his relationship with Coates and son John is as strong as ever, and the hierarchy hosted Hughes and his staff for Christmas dinner on Thursday night. please log in to view this image Following their poor run, Stoke sit 15th in the table with four defeats from their last five games ‘I speak almost every day to John or to Peter,’ he said. ‘Peter also comes for lunch every Friday (to the training ground). They know they have got good people working for them and they allow good people to get on with the job they are paid to do – and that’s what they are doing with me.’ ‘Everybody has experienced periods where it’s not going as well as you’d hoped,’ he said. ‘I’m very fortunate, I don’t feel I take any issues surrounding work into my home life and I’m grateful for that because I know there are managers who aren’t able to do that. I think that’s why I’ve had the longevity that I’ve had in this game because I’m able to deal with it.’ Hughes insists his relationship with Coates and son John is as strong as ever. ‘I speak almost every day to John or to Peter,’ he said. ‘Peter also comes for lunch every Friday (to the training ground). They know they have got good people and they allow good people to get on with the job — and that’s what they are doing with me.’
Under Mark Hughes, Stoke have won just three of their last 15 league matches - we've only won two of our last 15 I take it that MH has obliterated his 15 games without a win in the 2012/13 season from his memory then?
Of course not, just like we would never be in that situation again on his watch. Deluded Welsh c*nt...
Just saw this on BBC, and went straight here to post is. Never been near it????!!!!!! You self obsessed delusional prick!!! Mark Hughes is a class A c***!!! please log in to view this image
Selective memory loss. I used to be the same when I was job hunting. Oh, but he's not job hunting, is he? Yet.
Odious Welshman same when he played all elbows and knees and squealing like a tart when he didn't get the refs call, no class
I thought he saved us from relegation with a 1-0 win over Stoke (and a few other results going our way of course0 He has not just been near relegation...he fell over the edge and was hauled back by the skin of his teeth (how is that for mixed metaphors)
Totally ****in deluded welsh twat - hope they plummet and he gets the boot, nice to see Wet Spam making him eat his words
I think your point can be summed up succinctly. We sacked him before his team of expensive mercenaries was relegated. As I recall we were adrift and a couple of wins shy of the pack as a result of 4 points from the first 12 games.
I was at the home game against Southampton when he got sacked. That was the most toxic atmosphere I have ever experienced at HQ. If he didn't get his cards he probably would have been hung, drawn and quartered at the next home game. I am sure he is perfectly aware of this!
