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      ‘He does things nobody else does’ – Man who discovered Thomas Partey reveals how Arsenal ace would’ve prevented PSG loss

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      ARSENAL midfield machine Thomas Partey could’ve saved the club from a Champions League disasterclass.That’s according to the man who discovered him, Wilfred Osei Kwaku Palmer.Thomas Partey picked up a needless second yellow card against MadridCredit: ReutersPartey was on his way out but his form could prompt a new dealCredit: GettyArsenal will hope Partey can inspire a win next weekCredit: GettyPalmer, who owns Tema Youth football club in Ghana, gave a young Partey his first opportunity in football, long before the former Atletico Madrid star was tearing up La Liga and the Premier League.The Gunners paid dearly for his absence in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to PSG in their semi-final first leg, after his needless yellow card against Real Madrid.The talent-spotter and club owner believes the Ghanaian midfielder would’ve prevented PSG from dismantling Arsenal at the Emirates.Speaking to The Sun from his base in Ghana, Palmer said: “He does things nobody else does. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”If you look at the goal Arsenal conceded against PSG that’s normally where he dominates. “His importance is quite clear, he does things in that team that nobody else does.”Partey was expected to leave Arsenal at the end of this season, but a rich vein of form has prompted the Gunners to consider offering him a new two-year deal.There are also reports linking him with a move back to Spain to join Barcelona.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKBut Palmer says Partey should seize the opportunity to become an Arsenal legend.He added: “This is probably his best season since he went there, and if there’s a chance for him to stay, then that should be his home.How PSG tricked Arsenal to gain Champions League semi-final advantage”The fans love him, and I know he could make more money elsewhere, but I know him and he’s got it in him to play at the highest level for the next five years. “So why not do that at one of the best clubs in the world?”Partey has featured in 31 league games for the Gunners this season, scoring four goals. But it’s his overall impact, breaking lines with his passing and press resistance that has made him such a key member of the team. More

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      Tom Brady’s Birmingham break all-time EFL points record in just second season in charge of League One champions

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      BIRMINGHAM CITY have smashed the record for the most points scored in a single EFL campaign.The club’s 2-0 win over Blackpool on Wednesday evening took their overall points total up to 108 – two more than the record previously set by Reading (106) in the 2005-06 Championship season.Birmingham have broken the EFL points recordCredit: PAIt is a successful end to Tom Brady’s second season as co-owner of the clubCredit: ReutersEthan Laird broke the deadlock in the 39th minute before striker Alfie May secured the win at the start of the second half.Birmingham, co-owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, still have one more game left to play – against Cambridge United.The Blues were promoted back to the Championship earlier this month and clinched the League One title just days later.They have lost just three games all season and now remain 19 points clear of second-placed Wrexham.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAfter lifting the trophy on home soil at St Andrew’s last week, manager Chris Davies said: “It’s an incredible achievement.”I really have to reiterate that. I don’t want people to start taking this for granted and thinking that we just won another game.”We just got the most points any team in the history of English football have got in this league.”It’s an incredible achievement of how consistent the players have been, with all the ups and downs you have through a season, and injuries and everything else.Most read in EFLCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”They’ve done exceptionally well, so it’s an achievement that will be hard to match, 105 points in a season and I’m very, very proud of everyone.”We’re unbeaten in the league at home, so I wanted to finish strong today.Birmingham become first EFL club to win promotion as Tom Brady’s club bounce back to Championship at first attempt”We scored some good goals, it was a dominant performance – a really good way to finish.”Birmingham now have the chance to hit a record-extending 111 points if they beat already-relegated Cambridge on Saturday. More

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      How surviving life-threatening brain injury led Oliver Glasner to teach Crystal Palace stars to play without fear

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      WHEN Oliver Glasner took over at Crystal Palace, his first message to the squad was simple, “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”The Austrian boss sees football for what it is, a game built on errors and believes that only when players are freed from fear can they truly thrive.The nasty head injury that ended Oliver Glasner’s playing career.Credit: SportfotodienstOliver Glasner could now defy the odds and win the FA Cup with Crystal PalaceCredit: GettyOliver Glasner has transformed striker Jean-Philippe MatetaCredit: ReutersThat philosophy stems from a life-changing ordeal. Glasner’s own playing career was cut short by a brain haemorrhage after a head collision during a top-flight Austrian game. He needed emergency surgery that saved his life. So when he turned to coaching, he made himself a promise, this wouldn’t just be a job, it had to be a joy.Kennedy Boateng, who starred under Glasner during his first managerial role at LASK in Austria, recalls how the gaffer transformed a modest side into European contenders.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSHe exclusively told SunSport: “He was a different person on the pitch. “He spotted the smallest things. But in the canteen, he was like a father. He got to know our backgrounds and understood us as people.“I think when you come from Africa, you want to have a father figure, and for those of us who were in Europe for the first time, that was really important.“He didn’t treat us all the same. He tailored our games to who we were as individuals. Not everyone did the same thing, but everyone felt involved.”Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKGlasner hasn’t changed a bit. At Palace’s Beckenham training ground he still champions self-expression and insists on effort from everyone — players, staff, even kitchen workers.The team comes first is his mantra.’Got to be higher than that’ gasps Jack Grealish after seeing England team-mate Ebere Eze’s EA FC 25 ratingWolfsburg strugglesSuccess in Austria earned Glasner the top job at Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, a big leap, and not without bumps and real challenges.He delivered results, Europa League qualification in year one, and the Champions League in year two. But he struggled with dressing-room discipline. Things eventually exploded, and Glasner walked.When he left, Wolfsburg skipper Josuha Guilavogui didn’t hold back, telling reporters: “I’m happy he’s gone.”But Glasner took the hit and learned. German football journalist Tom Desborough told SunSport: “It was such a strange ending to a very good time. “On the pitch, he did well, but he had problems with Jorg Schmadtke, who went on to hire Mark van Bommel as his replacement, and it was an absolute mess.“He also had issues with the club captain Guilavogui but that was because he always left him on the bench.”I guess there were lessons in all of that, which he took with him to Eintracht Frankfurt.”Crystal Palace fans enjoying life under Austrian manager Oliver GlasnerThe non-negotiablesFrom that moment on, Glasner made a vow, respect and freedom, yes, but discipline is non-negotiable.Speaking on The High Performance Podcast, he said: “In life, if you invest in something and stay focused, you get the reward. “Everyone has an ego. I tell my players, use it for the team. If it’s against me, fine. Against the team? That’s not acceptable.”That new steel worked wonders. Glasner led Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory, knocking out teams like Barcelona and West Ham along the way.Before the final, sources say he spent time with every member of the squad, even the kit men telling them they’d already won by getting there.For him it was more about the journey than the final destination, about the culture and environment he had managed to create.Crystal Palace chairman has been blown away by the job Oliver Glasner is doingCredit: GettyThe South London jobWith just three games for LASK and over 500 for SV Ried, Glasner’s CV raised a few eyebrows in South London.But when he arrived at Palace, he made his mark early.There was a high-profile incident where he reportedly promised defender Rob Holding minutes against West Ham but had to change his plan as the Eagles went 2–0 down.Holding didn’t take it well. After the game, he refused to warm down with the rest of the squad, and Glasner wasn’t having it.First, Holding was made to train alone. Then, when no apology came, he was banished him to train with the academy.Asked about the incident in a press conference, Glasner said:“Rob is training individually at the moment. We will talk together, he knows the reason. But it stays between us.”Insiders say the boss stood firm even when the board tried to step in. He knew one thing back down and the dressing room was lost.Sebastian Rode won the Europa League with Oliver GlasnerCredit: GettyWhat working with Glasner is likeSebastian Rode, Glasner’s captain during that historic Europa League triumph with Eintracht Frankfurt, said:“It was a dream. “He opened our eyes and made us believe. The squad was a family-he found a way to get us not only to understand what he wanted but to believe in everything he told us.”Kennedy Boateng also highlighted a key aspect of Glasner’s approach.He said: “For young players, his approach is very good. He is close to his players and allows them to make mistakes.“That freedom is good it allows us to learn without the fear that usually comes with making mistakes.”Glasner has turned things around after a tough start to the seasonCredit: RexWhere he goes when he needs helpBehind the scenes, it’s his wife Bettina Glasner who keeps him grounded, the same woman who, in a twist of fate, had to give the emergency go-ahead for his brain surgery.The procedure was done at the same hospital where Christian Eriksen would later be treated for a heart attack.On the pitch, Glasner surrounds himself with trusted allies from his LASK days, Michael Angerschmid, Ronald Brunmayr, and Palace coach Paddy McCarthy who sources say, has been selfless in backing the boss.The rough start to this seasonAfter a rocky start to the season and no wins in his first eight games, Glasner has led Palace to their first FA Cup final since 2016. He’s also secured a 13th straight Premier League season, and even won over notoriously hard-to-please chairman Steve Parish who said Glasner “made all of us think differently”Read More on The SunThe man who once faced death is now breathing life into the Palace. And one thing is clear, he isn’t just here to survive, he’s building something unique. More

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      Man Utd legend Jonny Evans and England striker among stars Wrexham could target after promotion to Championship

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      MANCHESTER UNITED star Jonny Evans is among Wrexham’s major targets as part of their Premier League push, according to reports.The Welsh club celebrated promotion to the Championship over the weekend after Leyton Orient beat Wycombe Wanderers.Jonny Evans fits the profile of stars Wrexham want to sign this summerCredit: GettyThe Welsh club celebrated promotion to the Championship at the weekendCredit: RexIt marked a record-breaking third successive promotion to make it to England’s second tier, just two years after the club owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney was playing in the National League.However, the Hollywood duo have made no secret of their ambition to reach the Premier League, and have suitably bankrolled a number of lucrative deals to bring the club up the leagues so quickly.The Championship will represent arguably Wrexham’s toughest challenge yet, but a number of top flight players could become available to help them achieve their next goal.Manager Phil Parkinson said the club was “always planning” but admitted that while they have not spoken about anyone in particular they do have a profile of targets who are free agents.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe said: “We haven’t really spoken about anything. We’ve always got our eye on players who are free transfers and are going to be available.“I think it’s interesting because the jump in salaries is incredible, mind-blowing. Even coming up to this level, the jump to get players of Championship quality is expensive.“But obviously the next level, I don’t think people outside football quite realise. “They think players in League One must be multi-millionaires, but the drop-off from what people read in the press about Premier League players is huge.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK“That is a challenge but what we’ve always tried to do is make sure the culture in the club is right. “No superstars, no egos in the dressing room, and we’ve got to try to get that balance right again, to make sure the right people come into the building.”Danny Devito celebrates Wrexham’s last-gasp win over Barnsley as he watches from virtual stadium in LAPremier League internationals over the age of 30 who are out of contract this summer could be ideal candidates to bolster the squad with a combination of quality, experience and attainability.The likes of Man Utd’s Jonny Evans, Newcastle’s Callum Wilson, Everton’s Michael Keane, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy or even Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne all fit this category.While some of these names may seem far fetched, Wrexham accounts show a remarkable robustness, making the possibility of making one of these signings more realistic.Club accounts going up to June 2024 covering their season in League Two show revenues of £26.7million – which is a figure greater than seven Championship clubs including ex-Prem champions Blackburn -with the average revenue for a club not receiving parachute payments said to land at around the £22m mark.Sponsorship for that season had risen to £13.1m from £1.8m thanks to deals with United Airlines and Stok coffee.That figure is likely to rise when the next set of accounts emerge and detail their League One books, while there will almost certainly be a new season of Disney+ documentary “Welcome to Wrexham”.The latest series of the show will Premiere on May 16, with industry experts calculating every episode to be worth £300,000 to Reynolds and McElhenney’s production company.Wrexham also have the third-highest payroll in League One at an estimated total salary of £10.7m this season, all while operating at a reported loss of £2.7m and a £15m loan repayment to Reynolds and McElhenney.The Times report that sum comes from new minority owners, the billionaire Allyn family, who have a background in medical devices and are described as the driving force behind the club’s Premier League push.Speaking about the challenge of the next level, six-time promotion winner Parkinson said: “I think everybody knows the jump is huge. “I remember when I took Bolton up [in 2016-17], it was, ‘Phew! This is huge!’ in terms of the physicality and power in the division.Read More on The Sun“But I’m confident we will be well prepared for that. I think that a lot of tough decisions will be made this summer, but let’s see if we can build a squad to compete at that level.”Only two other clubs in English football history – Truro City (South Western League to Southern League between 2005 and 2009) and Shaw Lane (Sheffield and Hallam County Senior League to Northern Counties East Premier from 2011 to 2015) – have achieved four promotions in a row across the English pyramid.How Wrexham could line up next season2025 Premier League free agents over 32A list of select Premier League stars over the age of 32 who are becoming free agents this summer:Kevin De Bruyne, 33 – Manchester City Jamie Vardy, 38 – LeicesterCallum Wilson, 33 – NewcastleBen Davies, 32 – TottenhamJorginho, 33 – ArsenalAbdoulaye Doucoure, 32 – EvertonVladimir Coufal, 32 – West HamDanny Ings, 32 – West HamJoel Veltmam, 33 – BrightonPablo Sarabia, 32 – WolvesMichael Keane, 32 – EvertonChristian Eriksen, 33- Man UtdRaul Jimenez, 33 – FulhamWilly Boly, 34 – Nottingham ForestIdrissa Gueye, 35 – EvertonTom Cairney, 34 – FulhamCraig Dawson, 34 – WolevsNathaniel Clyne, 34 – Crystal PalaceFraser Forster, 37 – TottenhamJames Milner, 38 – BrightonAdam Lallana, 36 – SouthamptonBen Mee, 35 – BrentfordAshley Young, 39 – Everton More

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      Man Utd legend, 61, to be given thud into brutal reality of non-league with 14-hour, 880-mile round trip

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend and experienced manager Mark Hughes is set for a huge non-league reality check if he stays on as Carlisle boss.Hughes, 61, looks set to remain in charge of The Cumbrians next season despite sealing relegation from League Two into the National League.Mark Hughes is set for a brutal away day is he stays on as Carlisle United manager next seasonCredit: GettyCarlisle United have been relegated to the National LeagueCredit: RexThe drop into non-league will be a big change for Hughes, who throughout his coaching career has taken charge of nearly 500 Premier League games for the likes of Manchester City and Fulham.As well as spending five years as the Welsh national team boss.While his playing career saw him represent huge teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.Now a drop into the National League will represent his first ever non-league management, setting up a brutal reality check with one of his upcoming away days.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFollowing Cornish side Truro City’s promotion into the National League, Carlisle will face a 14-HOUR, 880-MILE round trip to take on the Tinners next season.Truro became the first ever Cornish side to win promotion into the National League when they beat St Albans City 5-2 to win the National League South on Sunday.Despite Mark Hughes’ vast experience at the top level, the former Bradford City manager has said he will have no issues dropping down the leagues.He said: ” I have no ego. Just because I played for United and managed clubs like Man City, or led my country, doesn’t mean being in charge of a National League team would somehow be beneath me.Most read in FootballTruro City have become the first Cornish side to win promotion into the National LeagueCredit: RexTheir stadium is an 878-mile round trip from Carlisle UnitedCredit: RexCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“Maybe other people might feel that but not me, even if I recognise it would be pretty unique for someone with some of the high spots I’ve had in my career.“I showed how much I still love being a manager by going to Bradford — when you’ve been a manager as long as I have you just miss that buzz of standing on the touchline at three o’clock on a Saturday afternoon.”David Beckham reveals unlikely Man Utd idol and admits mum Sandra couldn’t get enough of his thighsWhile he has hinted that he will be staying put, adding: “The owners are good people and they still have some big plans.“Discussions have taken place about me staying and plans for the future. This has been a tough challenge but one I’d still be up for, so we’ll see.“We have around 18 players under contract for next season.“The core of the side is already there and we’ve seen how well they’ve responded over the last couple of months against all the odds.”Americans Tom and Patty Piatak bought Carlisle 17 months ago, announcing ambitious plans to reach the Championship.Instead, the logistics millionaires from Florida have overseen successive relegations.Read More on The SunThe club have parted ways with sporting director Rob Clarkson “with immediate effect” following their unsuccessful battle against relegation from League Two.While the owners have said they are “deeply sorry for putting the fans through so much pain”, and have begun to plan for next season with discussions “ongoing and positive” with Mark Hughes.Mark Hughes had a superb playing career that saw him win the Premier League with Manchester UnitedCredit: GettyHe also took charge of nearly 500 Premier League games as a managerCredit: EPA More

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      Harry Redknapp: Jamie Vardy can fire Wrexham into Premier League if he makes ‘no-brainer’ transfer

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      JAMIE VARDY has been backed to help Wrexham into the Premier League by Harry Redknapp.The striker has confirmed he will be leaving relegated Leicester City at the end of the season.Harry Redknapp has backed Jamie Vardy to succeed at WrexhamCredit: RexVardy has been tipped for a move to the Welsh clubCredit: GettyRyan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have led the club to the ChampionshipCredit: GettyPromotion was confirmed on SaturdayCredit: GettyVardy, 38, spent 13 years at the King Power Stadium but, after a second relegation in three seasons, has called time.The former Premier League and FA Cup winner has since been tipped for a move to Hollywood-owned Wrexham.The Welsh outfit have risen up from the National League all the way to the Championship in consecutive seasons.Wrexham have had the backing of Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney since their takeover in 2021.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLRedknapp believes that if the club can pull off the signing of Vardy, then it could help them take one more massive step.He told BetVictor: “Jamie Vardy would be a fantastic signing for Wrexham.”He could get any team promoted next season from the Championship, I still think he has a lot to offer in a team that can make chances for him.”It would be a great move for Wrexham.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS“I don’t think he will be on the radar of Premier League clubs, but that said, I think he’s fantastic.”His work rate and everything about him is brilliant, if I was in the Championship I’d be moving heaven and earth to sign him.Jamie Vardy anounces he’s LEAVING Leicester in emotional video with striker left close to tears after 13 years“He would be a great value signing for any club, it’s a no-brainer in my eyes – he gives everything and works so hard.”I’d have him any day if I was managing a club who were trying to get promoted from the Championship, even a team like Burnley who have been promoted, his goals could help them stay up.”Wrexham confirmed their spot in the Championship for next season with their 3-0 win over Charlton on Saturday.The club is now five points clear of Stockport County and Wycombe Wanderers with just one game remaining.McElhenney and Reynolds celebrated the promotion with the trophy on the pitch.The Green Lantern star released an emotional statement amid the jubilations.It read: “We’ve been with Wrexham for what seems like the blink of an eye, but so much has happened.”I remember the first press conference, we were asked what our goals were… and I think Rob jumped in with, ‘The Premier League.'”People laughed. They had every right to. It seemed insane… but we weren’t kidding.”I feel at home here. It’s a place that values community, decency and history.”From the respect it pays to the Gresford Disaster, to the feeling of hope and miracles created by Mickey Thomas. These are big reasons Wrexham is growing into what it always was.”It isn’t just a place with a history of ups and downs, it’s also a FEELING. And a feeling is sometimes as good or better than a memory.”We made history. We’ve been promoted for a record third time in a row.”That doesn’t happen without the wisdom of Phil Parkinson and his coaching staff, or the talent of Paul Mullin. It doesn’t happen without Max Cleworth and Arthur Okonkwo.”Or Mark Howard who may have one of the hardest jobs there is. I watched Sam Smith create a frightening blend between football and martial arts, scoring our second goal yesterday.”The Stadium feels like a church. I know so many of you now. Since February, 2021, I’ve watched babies become regulars. And some regulars depart us for good.Read More on The Sun”We’ve had the honour to scatter ashes of loved ones across that field. I’ve even watched every available hand shovel snow off the pitch to keep a match from cancellation.”Somebody said the Welsh have the ‘heart of a poet and the fist of a fighter.’ That’s what I love about this place. I wish the whole world could visit Wrexham.” More

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      ‘Last straw’ – EFL chief reveals he’s stepping down over ‘VENDETTA’ against his club in lengthy statement

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      AN EFL chairman has confirmed they will be stepping down after a “vendetta” against his club.Andy Holt will be leaving Accrington Stanley after Saturday’s home game against Chesterfield.Andy Holt will step down as chairman of Accrington StanleyCredit: RexHe will leave the club at the end of the League Two seasonCredit: GettyThe League Two outfit are safe and are nine points clear of relegated Carlisle.Holt has claimed that he has had enough of a “vendetta” from the local authorities.The club have been hit with a series of sanctions which include the removal of a planning permission and a licence to sell alcohol on non-matchdays.Accrington Stanley have also been handed a noise abatement order.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThis has led Holt to announce his decision to step down from the club at the end of the seasonA statement read: “This is the last straw.”Accrington Stanley Ladies Day, an event that never happened until we started it, was held at Fence Gate during the DAYTIME, whilst our multi-million pound facilities stand empty, silence because of the council and councillors working against their club behind my back, as though I didn’t know what was going on.”The undermining of the club has gone on since day one. And I mean day one, long before I took the club on.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”The councillors voted to remove our planning permission because of the noise complaints.”Following advice from the head planner, we paid to reapply, only for the councillors to turn it down again. After council advice to appeal and more wasted cash, they did the same.Former Premier League star, 39, sent off after 55 seconds for headbutting rival’s BACK in EFL clash”Not content, the council’s staff snooped on the club to build evidence to put a noise abatement order on us.”Not content with that, they removed our licence to sell alcohol on non-matchdays.”It’s been a vendetta, with some councillors actively working against THEIR OWN CLUB.”Whether we had planning permission or not, they have powers to stop the club trading.”Whether they stripped us of our licence or not, they still have the power to stop us trading. Now they have imposed conditions on matchdays that cannot possibly be adhered to.”The club has no opportunity to generate income bar putting prices of tickets etc. up. Prices that are high enough already enough for hard-pressed supporters.”We are not Premier League and don’t have the desire or opportunity to rip fans off.”It’s a mistake for the council to think I will continually replace funds, missing as a result of not being able to trade, forever.”I’m not wasting any more of my life arguing with the council, councillors or MPs that should support the best asset in the town. If they can’t see the blindingly obvious, that’s their problem.”Holt continued in his statement to insist that he has had a “great” time at the club.”I have done my ten years after next week’s home finale. We’re safe, and having thrown many points away through naivety this season, we’re a young team that is getting better.”We have a great club, great staff, more organised than ever, run properly by two top managers, a great medical team, and rigid training routines.”I’m so proud of what we’ve done as a team, turning Accrington Stanley Football Club into a professional club. It has the opportunity to feed the town for generations to come, if only the council, councillors and MPs support it.”I’ve had a great ten years, including with Coley [John Coleman] and Jimmy [Bell]. Players like Billy [Kee}, Seamus [Conneeley], Yosser [Mark Hughes], and Seany [McConnville] will always hold a special place in my heart, as will the rest of them. In John [Doolan] and Ged [Brannan], we have two top quality professionals.”Two of my friends. We have a great group of fans, they give everything for their club. I know many of them personally now, a major plus for me.”I will end my time at the club in any executive capacity after the last game on Saturday.”The club must become financially stable if the great future in front of it is to be realised.”Read More on The SunHolt joined the board of Accrington Stanley back in 2015 and assumed control of the club later that year.The club was on the verge of folding when he took over.Who are these famous footballers? More

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      Man Utd legend, 61, set to take charge of National League side as he says ‘it wouldn’t be beneath me’

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      MARK HUGHES is preparing to take another step down to help Carlisle back up into the Football League.The Manchester United legend racked up 569 games as a Premier League boss after five years in charge of Wales.Mark Hughes was unable to steer Carlisle United away from relegation to the National LeagueHughes did everything he could to save the Cumbrians after being hired in FebruaryCredit: PANow he looks certain to remain in charge of the Cumbrians in next season’s National League after they were relegated with defeat at Cheltenham.Hughes, who also spent 20 months as Bradford City chief, sees no problem in finding himself in the fifth tier of English football, declaring: “I have no ego.“Just because I played for United and managed clubs like Manchester City, or led my country, doesn’t mean being in charge of a National League team would somehow be beneath me.“Maybe other people might feel that but not me, even if I recognise  it would be pretty unique for someone with some of the high spots I’ve had in my career.READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS“I showed how much I still love being a manager by going to Bradford — when you’ve been a manager as long as I have you just miss that buzz of standing on the touchline at three o’clock on  a Saturday afternoon.”The 61-year-old — who won two Prem titles and enjoyed a clutch of cup  successes at Old Trafford — also bossed Blackburn Rovers, Stoke, Fulham, QPR and Southampton.After being sacked by the Saints in 2018, he spent more than three years out of the game before shocking the football world by turning up at the Bantams.Hughes then replaced Mike Williamson in February with Carlisle five points adrift at the bottom of League Two and had won five and drawn five of 16 games before the near–inevitable happened on Saturday.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordRelegation or not, the indications are that he will stay after signing a rolling contract three months ago.Hughes added: “The owners are good people and they still have some big plans.Danny Devito celebrates Wrexham’s last-gasp win over Barnsley as he watches from virtual stadium in LA“Discussions have taken place about me staying and plans for the future. This has been a tough challenge but one I’d still be up for, so we’ll see.“We have around 18 players under contract for next season. “The core of the side is already there and we’ve seen how well they’ve responded over the last couple of months against all the odds.”Americans Tom and Patty Piatak bought Carlisle 17 months ago, announcing ambitious plans to reach the Championship. Instead, the logistics millionaires from Florida have overseen successive relegations.And the owners said they were “deeply sorry for putting the fans through so much pain”.But there was also a huge hint that Hughes will be staying on, with their statement declaring: “Planning for next season is already in motion. “Discussions with Mark Hughes are ongoing and positive.“In recent weeks, Mark has helped rebuild the connection between the team and supporters.Read More on The Sun“It’s a small but important step.“It shows what this football club can still become — and underlines how far we still have to go.” More