City’s owner backs Hughes

MANCHESTER City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan has backed manager Mark Hughes to succeed at Eastlands and spoken of his aim of making the club “a significant force in world football”.

Sheikh Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi Royal family, met with Hughes, club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and executive chairman Garry Cook in the Middle East yesterday.

They discussed a number of issues relating to matters on and off the pitch but Hughes’ immediate position was not a topic of conversation.

“I find that both Mark and Garry share an ambition for success and the enthusiasm and capability to deliver on that ambition,” said Sheikh Mansour. “They reflect our shared aim of seeing Manchester City evolve to become a significant force in the world of football.

“Mark shared with me his plans for how the team should be developed,” added Sheikh Mansour. “His strategy is compelling and he has my absolute mandate to implement his plans to evolve this team in the right way over the short, medium and long terms.”