Saturday 12 May 2018 08:34, UK
Mark Hughes feels he has been "airbrushed" out of Stoke's history after the club's owners said they should have sacked him sooner.
Peter and John Coates promised a "major overhaul" after the club's relegation from the Premier League and said they were probably too "loyal" to Hughes.
After his sacking in January, Hughes was placed in charge of Southampton until the end of the season and has all-but secured Saints' top-flight status ahead of their final game of the campaign on Sunday.
Stoke achieved their highest ever Premier League finish (ninth) three times under Hughes, but were 16th in the Premier League standings and with one win in their past eight games when he was dismissed.
"It was difficult season," said Hughes. "I'm a little bit disappointed maybe that the success we had in my four and a half years, it seems to me that part of their history certain people want to airbrush the success we had.
"It's there for everyone to see I was their most successful premier league manager. It didn't end like I wanted it to, nobody wanted that, but every one of my staff and myself put heart and soul into that job.
"I'm really sorry that unfortunately they've gone out of the league but it can happen to anybody if you take your eye off the ball."
