Dunne: Hughes has final say
17 Aug 2008 - 11:57:23
Captain Richard Dunne has rubbished reports that the Manchester City board are attempting to sell players without manager Mark Hughes' consent.
Hughes took the City reins in June after replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson, but reports suggest he is unhappy after the club attempted to offload defender Vedran Corluka and midfielder Stephen Ireland without his knowledge.
However, Dunne insists Hughes has full say over footballing matters at Eastlands.
City's transfer plans are believed to have been affected by owner Thaksin Shinawatra's problems with frozen assets in his native Thailand.
"If anyone leaves it will be the manager's decision," he told the News of the World.
"Mark Hughes won't settle for anything else. That's exactly how every football club should be run. We won't be made weaker by business decisions."
Meanwhile, Dunne has also rejected claims that a disillusioned Hughes - who signed a three-year contract in June - could follow Eriksson and leave City after just one season.
"I presume it was the manager's belief when he came here that he wouldn't just be coming for one year. He obviously feels he's here for the long haul," he continued.
"There was a lot of shock when Sven Goran Eriksson left. There was a time in the season when he was being offered a job for life, so for that to turn around and him not to have a job at all left the players wondering what was going on.
"I genuinely believe the future is good. The stuff in the paper is nothing new at Manchester City. It happens all the time."
Elsewhere, on-loan Mexico forward Nery Castillo has been linked with a move to AS Roma after struggling to break into the first team at the City of Manchester Stadium.