The Chairman, who was at Tottenham to witness a disputed 2-1 defeat that ended City’s late bid for a place in Europe, has been bemused by frenzied speculation over big names to replace Hughes after just one season.
And after privately reassuring the Blues manager yet again this weekend that he will be at the helm for the next campaign, Khaldoon has made it clear to mcfc.co.uk that there will be no change of mind on that score.
City’s supremo admitted: “I have been surprised at all the speculation, because I have always been consistent with everyone on the subject of the manager.
“Every time I have spoken, I have said the we have the highest confidence in Mark, and I would like to re-iterate that now. Mark will be our manager next season - nothing has changed.
“It has been a difficult season with all the rumours about Mark’s future and the number of players that we have been linked with.
“There has been incredible and unnecessary pressure put on Mark from outside the club, especially from the media, but I recognise that it comes with the game and with football.”
The Chairman stressed that, while City’s Premier League finish will be no higher now than 12 months ago, he is satisfied that strides have been taken, particularly behind the scenes, that will reap valuable benefits in the long term.
He added: “From my perspective, I think we have come a long way, and I am very much looking to a big finish to the season next week against Bolton.
When you consider how things have gone since January, I think we have accomplished things and now we can start focusing on next season.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak
“For once this club can have a pre-season. This is a club that has had ten managers in 15 years - it is hard to believe we have ever had a real pre-season.
“So this time we will have that, and we will do so with a year’s experiences behind us. That will make us stronger. I think next year is going to be better than this one. The club has a lot more stability.”
