Bryan Hughes – what’s next?

Bryan Hughes is in the process of looking for new club, he spent last season at Accrington Stanley but his contract is up.

The skilful midfield player has a wealth of experience; he has enjoyed a long and successful career but is now desperate to play.

Hughes said: “I just want to get everything sorted, so that I can get playing. 

The Yorkshire based player has done well Accrington and ended the season strongly after a mid-season injury, but he is now fully fit: “I was pleased with how the season ended, I even scored against [promoted] Shrewsbury.

His Accrington colleagues from last season have already gone back to pre-season training, but whilst Hughes’ future is up in the air, he has had to make other arrangements: “At the moment I’m training with my old side Hull, whilst I try to sharpen my fitness up.”

There is an offer for a contract extension on the table but until everything is sorted out he will have to continue to train away from the club.

To date the Hughes has enjoyed a successful and exciting career, winning promotion to the Premiership with Hull and Birmingham, he made he made nearly 300 appearances for the latter, and had short spell in Iceland with IBV Vestmann last summer. 

But what next?

As a free agent he is on the market, whilst he is settled with ‘Stanley’, officially he is not attached to a club he has to look at his other options.

He says: “I am confident in my ability, you don’t lose your ability, just a yard of pace but your experience makes up for that.

“There is no reason why I couldn’t still play at a higher level, or even abroad but basically I just want to get playing.”

Hughes still lives in Yorkshire and has been impressed with some of his local sides: “I know Phil [Parkinson] from my time at Charlton and his assistant Steve Parkin from Hull – Phil’s done a great job at Bradford since taking over.

“Then there is Rotherham, Steve Evans took over in April of this year and he’s done an excellent job.

“I would love to work with him, he knows how to win; as he’s shown at all the clubs he’s work for. You just have to look at the legacy he left at Crawley.”

No matter where Hughes ends up plying his trade, he will bring a lot of experience, a factor that makes him an attractive proposition as he is someone who work well with youngers players: “The kids tend to look up to me, they know I’ve played in the top flight and that is where they want to be.”

There is no doubt that Hughes has still got it, it is now just a case of waiting to see where he will be playing come the start of the 2012/13 season.

One thing that is guaranteed; is that the club will get a hard-working and committed midfielder who will be up for a challenge.

This interview was arranged by Hughes’ representative Simon Dent of WWW.SJDENTMGT.COM (ROAR Global Sports Limited).

By Scott Balaam

Twitter @scottbalaam