Chelsea Reporting Hughes? So Should Blackburn Rovers

(Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

Chelsea Football Club are reportedly set to report Leslie (his official first name, don't you know) Hughes for tapping up John Terry.

Blackburn Rovers Football Club should be the next to report Hughes for tapping up Roque Santa Cruz.

Rovers fans should have first-hand knowledge of Hughes' tactics. Remember Hughes learnt from the master of illegally tapping up players at Manchester United. Hughes tapped up Robbie Savage who ultimately joined the club from Birmingham City. I was pleased with that signing but look at the similarities between the behaviour of Savage and Cruz. In his quest to engineer a move from Birmingham City to Blackburn Rovers it was consistently made clear by the player himself that he was unsettled.

Just like with Savage, it was Hughes encouraging Cruz to act as he did. Hughes was the one in his ear telling him to act as unsettled as he possibly could. Cruz isn't blameless but Hughes deserves his share of the blame. Instead on the opening day it will be Cruz who has 100% of the abuse aimed at him. 

It's not like players need much more of an incentive to join Manchester City at the moment. Hughes should have shown a little respect and gone through the official channels. Cruz was brought to this country by Hughes and would listen to anything he had to say. I don't believe Cruz would have acted so unprofessionally without some prompting and Hughes was the one doing that.

Hughes was at his worst when it came to linking himself with other clubs. He linked himself to Manchester United (the same club Jack Walker refused to sell Alan Shearer to) at every opportunity. He refused to comment when Newcastle United were reportedly interested prior to their decision to appoint Kevin Keegan.

He had his ego deflated at last when Roman Abramovich decided against appointing him at Chelsea. Hughes got lucky with a change in Manchester City’s circumstances shortly after his arrival there.

I’m sure if Rovers were to do anything it would have been weeks ago when Cruz completed his move. It might be too late to do anything but why are the people at this club such a soft touch when it comes to dealing with Hughes?

It’s time for this club to develop a no-nonsense attitude and give Hughes what he deserves.

Time to report Hughes to the football authorities. What would be the point though? It’s not like any financial penalty against Manchester City or Hughes would damage either to any extent.

It’s not about money though. It’s about principle.

Something Hughes knows nothing about.

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