Mark Hughes was given stay of execution to help Roberto Mancini settle in at City
Manchester City delayed sacking Mark Hughes by three weeks in order to give new manager Roberto Mancini an easy start to his Eastlands career.
City fired Hughes after Saturday’s 4-3 home win over Sunderland even though the team are sixth in the Barclays Premier League and have lost just two games.
Make yourself at home: Mancini looks around Carrington on Sunday
It emerged a verbal agreement on Mancini’s three-and-a-half-year contract was reached on December 2, as City beat Arsenal in the Carling Cup, but the board wanted to delay the appointment until after tough games against Chelsea, Bolton and Tottenham.
Mancini, set to earn £10million during his time at City, will begin his reign with fixtures against Stoke, Wolves and then Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.
The 45-year-old Italian is a friend of City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and will be presented at a press conference today (Monday).
Mancini’s former Sampdoria team-mate David Platt may be invited to join Brian Kidd on the staff.
Khaldoon will miss this afternoon's press conference, while executive chairman Garry Cook will not take any questions about the shoddy manner of the sacking.
It also emerged Cook had the temerity to wish Hughes’s staff a ‘Happy Christmas and New Year’ after telling them they were dumped.
Spot of bother: A penalty strike from Carlos Tevez couldn't save Hughes his job despite helping City to a 4-3 win over Sunderland
Hughes said on Sunday night: ‘Given the speed of my successor’s appointment, it would appear the club made the decision some considerable time ago.
In and out: David Platt may be invited to join City's backroom after Hughes' axe
At the beginning of the season it was agreed a realistic target would be sixth place or 70 points. We were on target at the time of my dismissal.’
Mancini is expected to take fitness coach Ivan Carminati and perhaps former Inter No 2 Fausto Salsano to the club.
- Iker Casillas breaks down in tears in emotional farewell
- Conor McGregor looking wild and ready at fierce UFC weigh-in
- Louis van Gaal confirms Matteo Darmian arrival at Man United
- Memphis Depay: It's a dream come true to play for Man United
- Franck Ribery: Bayern team sad to see Schweinsteiger leave
- Steve McClaren leads Newcastle squad in pre-season training
- Heartwarming moment baby sees parents clearly for first time
- Shocking new footage of ISIS massacre in Tikrit
- Solar cycle: The sun's 11-year heartbeat explained
- Appalachian Bear Rescue save black bear cub
- Horrifying moment slingshot ride cable SNAPS
- Mexico's Security Commissioner on Guzman's prison escape
- Morgan Schneiderlin has medical with Manchester United as...
- Bastian Schweinsteiger on way to England to finalise £15m...
- UFC 189: Conor McGregor stops Chad Mendes late in second...
- Raheem Sterling on his way to Manchester City after...
- Iker Casillas breaks down in tears as Spanish legend bids...
- Wimbledon final RESULTS 2015: Roger Federer vs Novak...
- Conor McGregor parties the night away after stopping Chad...
- Manchester United begin discussions with Benfica over...
- Transfer news LATEST: Manchester United, Liverpool,...
- Novak Djokovic crowned Wimbledon 2015 champion with victory...
- Chelsea to make £22m move for Barcelona star Pedro, while...
- Robin van Persie lands in Turkey as Manchester United...