Mark Hughes' management return nearly didn't happen due to email gaffe

Mark Hughes has been unveiled as Bradford City boss - but an email faux pas almost meant it didn't happen.

The former Manchester City and Wales manager made a surprise return to football after more than three years away, signing a two-and-a-half year contract with the League Two club.

But, speaking at Hughes' unveiling on Thursday, Bradford's chief executive Ryan Sparks revealed that the 58-year-old's application accidentally ended up in the club's spam folder.

Sparks admitted: "The truth of the matter is when it actually came through, we've had some issues with our emails and it was in my junk folder!

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"I go through that every day and obviously I made a phone call very quickly to his representatives and explained 'apologies for the three-hour delay, I'm usually on it but I would like to have a conversation with Mark'.

"That's where it started. It started with a chuckle.

"I wouldn't have expected Mark Hughes to be the next manager but once conversations started then I genuinely thought it was possible.

"This is not a Premier League club by any stretch, we don't have the facilities that Mark will have had at other clubs but he's not come into it looking at any negative thoughts, his eyes are wide open."

Hughes comes into a club that is 10 points shy of the play-offs in what is their third season back in League Two.

The Bantams have won just one of their last seven matches, which cost previous manager Derek Adams his job having only been appointed last summer.

Hughes, who has bossed six Premier League clubs as well as taking charge of his native Wales, is under no illusions as to the size of the challenge as he bids to get City on an upward trajectory.

He said: "It's an opportunity for me to develop. It's not a level I'm used to operating at, but I'm intrigued to see how my skillset transfers.

"It's a league that's demanding, I understand that.

"Physically it asks questions of players and managers alike. At times it's a bit of a slog, you've got to get through the hard work, that's a given. But that doesn't faze me. That didn't faze me as a player, that doesn't faze me as a manager.

"I am here for a reason: to make Bradford City a team people want to come and watch - and are proud to watch.

"The supporters come in their numbers, and that is the thing I have missed since being out of management. I am looking forward to the matchday, getting that adrenaline flowing and interacting with the crowd.

"Certainly, from now until the end of the year, we just want to finish strongly and see where that takes us."

Hughes begins his reign with an intriguing clash on Saturday. Nigel Clough's Mansfield Town, unbeaten in 12 games and ten points better off than Bradford, visit Valley Parade.