Hughes settlement agreed

Last updated : 18 October 2003 By Brian Cartlidge
Hughes signed for Blues from Wimbledon on a season long loan deal in March 2002 and claims he was offered a three-year contract at St Andrews should the club win promotion to the Premiership that season.

However, the Northern Ireland international midfielder injured an ankle during the first month at St. Andrew's and was sent back to the London club which Blues claimed made that deal invalid.

Blues as we all know reached the Premiership that season and Wimbledon argued he was a Birmingham player.

Hughes attended an independent arbitration hearing in London with his legal team this week, where he accepted the club's settlement offer.

"A satisfactory settlement has been mutually agreed," said PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, who acted on his behalf.

"We're satisfied."