Mark Hughes asks for fans’ backing

Mark Hughes wants the Stoke fans to believe in him after some opposition to his appointment as new Potters boss on Thursday.

Hughes has signed a three-year deal at the Britannia Stadium just six months after being sacked by QPR.

His stint at Loftus Road lasted just under 11 months, saw extensive squad renovation, shows a record of only six victories in 30 Barclays Premier League games, and ended with the Londoners bottom of the table.

Some Stoke supporters are unhappy at the decision to bring him in as fellow Welshman Tony Pulis’ successor, with one displaying a ‘Hughes Out’ banner in the Britannia Stadium car park even before yesterday’s confirmation he had the job.

Regarding negative feeling among fans, Hughes said: “I can understand, because for six months they have been told that my ability as a manager is in question.

“You can understand possibly that there is a little bit of reticence towards the appointment, but I think they need to take comfort from the fact that the ownership that has been fantastic for Stoke has made the decision that I am the best guy for their club.”