City sack Hughes and recruit Mancini

Manchester City have confirmed the sacking of manager Mark Hughes, and announced the appointment of Roberto Mancini as his replacement.

City have released a statement confirming Hughes, who has lost just two games this season, has had his contract terminated.

Former Inter Milan coach Mancini was at today's Barclays Premier League game against Sunderland, which saw City beat Sunderland 4-3.

City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak said in the statement: "Prior to the current season beginning, with significant investment in players and infrastructure in place, the consensus between the board and coaching staff was that appropriate agreed targets should be set for the 2009-10 season.

"The targets were agreed as a result of the player acquisition strategy of the club being radically accelerated in the summer as a result of very favourable conditions for any buying club.

"It was also based on the fact that the infrastructure of the club had been overhauled completely at great cost in order to create the best possible environment for the team.

"A return of two wins in 11 Premier League games is clearly not in line with the targets that were agreed and set.

"Sheikh Mansour and the board felt that there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change.

"This is a particularly difficult announcement given the personal investment over the past 15 months on all sides and we would like to put on record our respect for and thanks to Mark Hughes - and we wish him the best in his future career."