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Mark Hughes favourite for Stoke job
STOKE CITY want to appoint Mark Hughes as their new boss – but only if he agrees to certain restrictions.
The Welshman heads the Potters’ shortlist to replace the sacked Tony Pulis and is believed to be interested in taking over.
And while Stoke close in on Hughes, Everton appear to be poised to make Wigan’s Roberto Martinez their next boss as the Premier League gets set for its biggest managerial shake-up yet.
If Stoke get their man, Hughes has been told he can’t bring Mike Rigg in with him to the Britannia – his technical director at a number of his former clubs including QPR, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers.
That would be a blow to the Welshman, who sees Rigg as an integral part of his backroom staff.
Stoke already have a technical director in place, Mark Cartwright, who only arrived at the club in December.
The exclusion of Rigg could be a problem for Hughes as negotiations continue, with chairman Peter Coates anxious to have a new man in place quickly in order to facilitate a number of transfers.
If no agreement can be reached then Stoke will look elsewhere, with Cardiff boss Malky Mackay another option along with Roberto Di Matteo and Gus Poyet, who is on the verge of leaving Brighton.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan fears he has lost the fight to keep Martinez, with the club expecting a formal approach for their FA Cup-winning manager any day now.
It’s been a slow burner for Goodison Park chairman Bill Kenwright, who has spent the time since David Moyes agreed to become Manchester United manager interviewing potential replacements from within the club.
Initially confident that Martinez would remain at the DW Stadium to try and lead a swift return to the Premier League, Whelan now feels the lure of another challenge elsewhere will prove too difficult for him.
Whoever takes over will have to replace a number of backroom staff, who are likely to link up with Moyes at Old Trafford.