Roberto Mancini will be unveiled as Manchester
City's new manager on Monday knowing his first task is to restore
order to a dressing room in revolt.
But the Italian will also come into a job where predecessor Mark
Hughes found the expectations of the club's owners changed, it has
been claimed.
Hughes' sacking, straight after the 4-3 win over Sunderland on
Saturday, triggered an angry reaction from a group of players who
remain solidly behind the Welshman.
While Robinho, a £32.5million purchase imposed on Hughes, and
maybe even the axed Emmanuel Adebayor, will shed no tears at
Hughes' exit, the core of City's side, including Shay Given, Craig
Bellamy and Gareth Barry, were part of a deputation that urged
chief executive Garry Cook to reverse the decision to dismiss a man
who was only appointed 18 months ago.
Predictably, given Hughes' exit had been plotted for over a
fortnight, it had no effect.
However, resentment remains, which Mancini must restore calm
before his first match in charge against Stoke on Boxing Day.
Having been handed a £3million-a-year contract that it is said
will be extended to a full three seasons should City qualify for
next year's Champions League, Mancini has a fortnight to assess the
troops at his disposal before deciding how much of the Abu Dhabi
billions he must invest during the January transfer window.
The Italian takes over amid claims from League Managers
Association chief executive Richard Bevan that Hughes was unaware
of his fate prior to Saturday's game.
City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak revealed the decision had been
taken in response to a run of just two wins in 11 in the Barclays
Premier League.
City's woes stem largely from too many drawn matches, the club
having lost just two games all season - one of those an unfortunate
reverse in a thrilling Manchester derby.
Hughes' demeanour during and after Saturday's win at Eastlands
indicated he was aware of the board's decision to terminate his
contract prior to the game, but that was not the case, according to
Bevan.
"I spoke to Mark last night and he found out immediately after
the game when he was called into a meeting and informed that his
contract was being terminated, but I think the decision had
probably been taken some time ago," Bevan told BBC Radio 5 Live's
Sportsweek programme.
"I think Mark and everybody else in this country realises that
you can't buy trophies in one season.
"If they [overseas owners] feel that, then we'll continue with
the sackings and we'll continue with affinity lost to our clubs in
England, because I'm pretty sure the Manchester City fans will be
sorry to see Mark go.
"If you come in as an overseas owner, you need to embrace the
city, the supporters, not just the trophy cabinet."
Saturday's win over the Black Cats moved City into sixth place
in the Premier League, a position in line with the board's
pre-season targets, and Bevan has accused the club's owners of
shifting their expectations midway through the campaign.
"Mark is very realistic about the situation," Bevan said.
"He knew the key goals he had to hit. His target actually was
the top six. He was very disappointed because they were on target
for that.
"For me, his reputation is still intact.
"Only two defeats - the fewest in the league - semi-finals of
the Carling Cup, to me it looks like the goalposts were moved and
the decision was made some time ago that he wasn't to continue in
his role past today.
"I'm very disappointed for Mark and indeed the City fans.
"Mark would have delivered continued success without doubt if
more time had been afforded to him and his staff, but he's left a
platform for the next manager without doubt."
A City statement released last night on behalf of chairman
Khaldoon al-Mubarak said: "Prior to the current season beginning
the consensus between the board and coaching staff was that
appropriate agreed targets should be set for the 2009/2010
season.
"The targets were agreed as a result of the player acquisition
strategy of the club being radically accelerated in the summer as a
result of very favourable conditions for any buying club.
"A return of two wins in 11 Premier League games is clearly not
in line with the targets that were agreed and set. Sheikh Mansour
and the board felt that there was no evidence that the situation
would fundamentally change."
Khaldoon added: "Roberto is a hugely experienced manager with a
proven track record of winning trophies and championships.
"What is absolutely clear is that Roberto believes in Manchester
City's potential to achieve at the highest level and importantly in
his own ability to make this happen."
The games against Stoke and Wolves, on December 28, before an FA
Cup meeting with Middlesbrough and a Carling Cup semi-final
first-leg clash with Manchester United now take on a whole new
dimension, for City's opponents as well as themselves.