Mark Hughes breaks silence over his Bradford City sacking
MARK Hughes has spoken for the first time about his City exit – calling it “unfair”.
Hughes has kept quiet since he was sacked at Valley Parade two months ago.
But he broke his silence in an interview with Sam Allardyce.
Talking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Hughes said: “I enjoyed my time at Bradford. They’re a good club and expectations are really high there.
“We did okay last year and got to the play-offs, which was the best season they’d had at League Two level in this current period.
“But you’re at risk as a manager early in the season if you don’t set the tone.
“Everybody thinks that if you have a bad start, that’s how the whole season is going to pan out. That’s not the case, in fairness.
“In the first 10-11 games I had, we won three, lost three and had close-run draws and it was deemed not good enough.
“When I got the sack, it was the first time since December I’d lost back-to-back league games.
“I thought it was a little bit unfair, if I’m honest. But the perception was that I needed to go.”
Hughes received stick from fans towards the end of his 19-month reign and the away end chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning” after the defeat at Tranmere, which proved to be his final game.
“You have to grow a thick skin and as a manager, ours are thicker than most,” added Hughes.
“You get a little bit of criticism but it wasn’t fazing me. I think it was fazing other people within the club more than me.
“I was quite happy to wait until it turned round.”
Hughes has had a couple of weeks away to recharge his batteries and insists his days in management are not over.
“I don’t feel I’m done,” he said.
“I possibly did before the Bradford role because I’d been out for three years. It looked like I wouldn’t get another opportunity, for whatever reason.
“I had the opportunity to go to Bradford and took it. I probably shocked a few people.
“But it was just a case of getting back in. I thought it was a good club with a good fanbase.
“There were elements I could recognise given the level I’ve played at and managed before.”
