City to wield the axe

Manchester City are set to axe manager Mark Hughes on Saturday even if the EPL big spenders beat Sunderland. According to a report in The Sun newspaper, the club’s wealthy Arab owners have lost complete faith in Hughes following Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham. Apparently Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and owner Sheikh Mansour have lined up Guus Hiddink or Jurgen Klinsmann as possible replacements. Hughes was appointed to the City hot seat in June 2008 and has spent £250m on the team. The Eastlands based team have lost just twice this season, but a massive eight draws has left them in eighth place on the EPL standings, six points off a coveted Champions League place.