Coach who left Stoke City last week joins non-league side
Clitheroe have signed Mark Hughes following his recent exit from Stoke City, as announced by their official X account.
The non-league side have brought in the 37-year-old as a player on non-contract terms.
Hughes left his coaching role at Stoke City last week along with Steven Schumacher and has now decided to put his boots back on.
Clitheroe have confirmed on X that he has decided to join them in the Northern Premier League.
The Liverpudlian worked under Schumacher at Plymouth Argyle before joining him at the Bet365 Stadium last December. The pair managed to keep the Potters in the Championship last season and were given this past summer to bolster their squad.
However, they lasted just five fixtures into this campaign before the club’s hierarchy decided to make a change. Former Huddersfield Town and Norwich City coach Narcis Pelach has since taken over the Staffordshire outfit.
Schumacher is now weighing up his options but in the meantime, Hughes will be playing in the seventh tier.
Departed Stoke City coach in new move
Hughes’ switch to Clitheroe is an opportunity for him to play again and keep busy.
He is a trusted member of Schumacher’s coaching team and is likely to link back up with him when he finds a new job.
Hughes started his career at Everton and rose up through the academy ranks of the Premier League outfit before having a loan spell away as a youngster at Stockport County to get some experience under his belt.
The defender went on to play three times for the Toffees before going on to have stints at Northampton Town, Walsall, Bury, Accrington Stanley, Morecambe, Stevenage and Bristol Rovers. He also played in Australia for North Queensland Fury.
What now?
Stoke City’s decision to sack Schumacher raised eyebrows and his replacement Pelach lost his first game in charge 3-1 at home to Hull City last Friday.
The Potters were poor against the Tigers and will want to bounce back from that disappointing loss.
They need to hit some form and are back in action this weekend against Middlesbrough away.
