Source: Team_Talk
Hughes wants Scot to take top job
Hibernian manager Hughes has already thrown his weight behind Jim Jefferies in the battle to succeed George Burley.[LNB]Opinion is divided over whether SFA chief executive Gordon Smith should limit the search to Scotsmen, with the disastrous Berti Vogts era still fresh in most fans' memories.[LNB]Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo appeared to throw his hat into the ring on Thursday but his counterpart at arch-rivals Hibs would not welcome the Hungarian's appointment.[LNB]"I think the national team should be for a Scotsman," Hughes said.[LNB]"Look at all your top clubs in England, from Manchester United, right through, they've all got Scotsmen on their staff.[LNB]"We just need to make sure we go and pick the right guy.[LNB]"We've got the best supporters in the world."[LNB]Burley has been criticised for trying to transform Scotland from a side focused on being hard to beat into one which tried to play more expansively.[LNB]Hughes said: "If I was the Scotland manager, there has to be realism of, 'We're not the best in the world'.[LNB]"We're not technically as good as other countries, but what we have got is we go and play football with pride and passion and wear our hearts on our sleeves.[LNB]"When that national anthem's getting played, they're all singing their hearts out and any team you play against know they've been in a battle."[LNB]He added: "Just watch the Irish last night (against France) - they played with a real great pride and passion, always play as an underdog, and that's what we need to do.[LNB]"We're not good enough to play a wide open, expansive style - we have to play to our strengths.[LNB]"Our strength is our desire - you can never take that out of a Scotsman."[LNB]Like Burley, Hughes has built his reputation on playing open, attractive football - but he admits even he is being forced to adapt.[LNB]"I want to see us have some really good football, I want to play a totally expansive style of football," he said of his side, who lie third in the Scottish Premier League ahead of Saturday's trip to St Mirren.[LNB]"But we've noticed of late - possibly with the start we've had - that we've become a scalp, and other teams are not letting us play.[LNB]"We have to deal with that."[LNB]Hughes also defended the state of the Scottish game, reminding its critics of its recent achievements on the club and international stage.[LNB]He said: "Just look back four years: you've had Celtic, UEFA Cup final; Rangers, UEFA Cup final; Scotland national team doing great; and I think now in the SPL domestically, we're serving up some right good stuff."[LNB]Hughes revealed he would jump at the chance to join the backroom team of the next Scotland boss - especially if it turns out to be Jefferies, who managed him at Falkirk - but he ruled himself out of the top job for the time being.[LNB]"It's an ambition of mine to go and manage my country, certainly," Hughes said.[LNB]"But I'm in the best job in Scotland right at this time. I've worked ever so hard to get to Hibs and I want to be here many years and the rest will take care of itself.[LNB]"So don't go phoning me, Gordon Smith!"[LNB][LNB] Hibernian 5/4, St Mirren 2/1, Draw 12/5
