Source: FOOTYMAD
Hughton Does It His Way ... Again
Chris Hughton put immediate promotion back to the Premier League top of his list, and played the reserves in the Carling Cup and FA Cup. We, Toon fans, weren't too happy about it because we felt we could have given the Carling Cup a genuine go ... and even go on and win it ... because to top sides were not showing the competition enough respect. But Hughton got us promotion, and that was everyone's priority. Now tew Birmingham boss Chris Hughton insists clinching immediate promotion back to the top flight next season will take precedence over a UEFA Europa League adventure. Following Birmingham's Carling Cup success, the 52-year-old also has the unusual added element of European football to contend with amid a tough 46-match npower Championship campaign. The club enter the Europa League at the final play-off stage before the group competition, with the two-legged tie due to be played on August 18 and 25 against opponents who will become known on August 5. And despite admitting he will look to take Birmingham as far as he can in Europe, Hughton left fans in no doubt as to where his priorities lie. Chris Hughton: "I don't think I'd be speaking too out of place if I was to say, for me, that (Europe) is not the biggest priority. "It's something which is very welcome and it gives players an opportunity to play at European level. But I don't think it would be wrong of me to say that it isn't the most important priority for me. "The most important one is to get this group of lads together and give this Championship a real good go. "Our approach will be to do as well as we can in the competition (Europa League). It is a different stage and does open players to a different audience, that audience becomes bigger the further you go in the competition. Anything which promotes this club is a plus."
