Mark Hughes’ resignation from Fulham had nothing to do with Aston Villa or Chelsea – agent

Mark Hughes – Fulham

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Mark Hughes‘ agent Kia Joorabchian is adamant that the former Fulham boss did not decide to leave the club because the likes of Aston Villa and Chelsea are looking for new managers.

The 47-year-old declined a new two year deal and parted company with Craven Cottage on Thursday where he spent only a season as manager.

He also claimed that he had held no talks with other clubs yet but that he will be looking into joining a club which can offer him the possibility of winning more silverware, be it in England or
by moving to Europe.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme, Joorabchian said: “As a manager he
has ambitions to really compete at the top level and be the best he can.

“Fulham are where they are. They are a great top-10, mid-table club and I think Mark really wants to be right up there competing in the Champions League positions, up there competing
for titles. He’d like to win some cups.

“The timing was an unfortunate circumstance. The timing of the situation was such there were a couple of vacancies available.

“It had nothing to do with it whatsoever. You all realise Mark Hughes is a sincere man. He wouldn’t do that.

“He sat down and thought about it and thought if he signs a two-year contract now and they go and buy players in the transfer market, but all the time looking over his shoulder thinking
‘well if a bigger job comes along, a top-four club or maybe a place in Portugal, Spain, Germany, Italy that allows him to compete…’ then he’d be sort of keen to move and that would be unfair to Fulham.

“He wanted to tell them and give them plenty of time. There was no better time to do so than at the end of the season.

“This has nothing to do with Aston Villa or Chelsea or any other club. Mark Hughes made the decision to leave Fulham purely and simply because he didn’t want to commit to two years then look over his shoulder and disappoint them by leaving in the middle of his contract.”

The Stamford Bridge club are looking for a new boss after Carlo Ancelotti was relieved of his duties  after a disappointing and trophyless season for the west London club, but Joorabchian insists that there have been no talks about Hughes, a former Blues player himself, taking the helm.

“There’s a vacancy there but I’m sure they have their own planning,” he added. “We have not spoken to them. They have not spoken to us.

“It’s a club he has played for, so he knows the club well but it would be disrespectful of us to say ‘yes, we’d like to go there’ or here or whatever.

“It’s a case of Mark sitting on the sidelines and seeing what opportunities there will be throughout Europe.”