May 25 2007

Michael Hughes

MICHAEL HUGHES admits he'd love to become Crystal Palace manager one day.

Midfielder HUGHES, 35, was released by Peter Taylor last month when his contract with the club expired.

The fan favourite has yet to find another Championship side, but hasn't ruled out returning with the Eagles as manager in the future.

"I’d love to come back as manager one day," he said. "In the short term, I want to come back to play in front of the fans again - even if it’s with another team.

"I want to go back to Selhurst Park one more time to say a proper goodbye and thank the fans for the memories. They always supported me and I found them a tolerant bunch.

"The fans are great and I made many friends there. I feel that I’ll always be made welcome to return."

Steve Kember brough the Larne-born ace to Palace on a free in 2003 and he had a major say in Palace's surge to the Premiership under Iain Dowie.

He scored the winning penalty in the play-off semi-final shoot-out against Sunderland to send the Eagles to the final, where they beat West Ham.

The Northern Ireland international was an ever-present in Palace's relegated Premiership campaign and the unsuccessful bid to get back to the top flight after crashing to Watford in the play-offs.

Despite not figuring much in Taylor's plans last season, HUGHES insists he has lots of memories to call upon.

"The memories are incredible," he said. "If I look back through my whole career, the one moment that sticks out is Sunderland away in the play-offs.

"The atmosphere was incredble and it was a game that had so much riding on it and that night will be something that I’ll always remember.

"I enjoyed the experience in the Premiership as it was nice to get back in there. Getting there was probably the most exciting part. Iain Dowie had a group of guys with a great spirit and we all pulled together.

"But if I had one chance to turn the clock back, it would be to to try and stop Southampton’s last-minute equaliser against us in the Premiership."

HUGHES added: "Last season wasn't the best because we didn’t really get going and I was in and out of the team. It was just one of those things. It was a difficult season and a time for players to bed in.

"I'd like to wish the club well and all the best for the future. It would be nice to see Palace challenging for promotion next season."