Hughes jumping the gun with resignation.

This Tuesday, Mark Hughes announced his resignation as Fulham manager, just over a month away from completing his first year in charge of the West London side. This news came amidst speculation as to who would be appointed the new Aston Villa manager after Gerard Houllier resigned due to concerns with his poor health.

It has since came to be known that Mark Hughes is not on Aston Villa's shortlist to be approached regarding their vacant managerial position, and contractually with Fulham, Hughes, his agent, and other clubs, must wait until the end of the month before holding negotiations with one another. So this begs the questions, what was the reasoning behind Hughes' resignation, and where does his future lie?

Hughes' agent, Kia Joorabchian, has had plenty to say on his client's future

Hughes' actions are already cast into doubt what with his choice of agent, the perhaps "shady" Kia Joorabchian. Of course, Joorabchian is well-known for his part to play in the Carlos Tevez saga, whereby a player in the Premier League was not allowed to be owned by a third party company. Joorabchian being Hughes' choice of agent means many are dubious about his actions and where his future lies.

Both Hughes and Joorabchian have said the Welshman is an ambitious man who wants to be managing a top-four club, but realistically, which of these clubs would take him? The obvious answer is Chelsea, who are looking for a manager after parting company with Carlo Ancelotti at the end of the season. However, it's safe to say if Gus Hiddink is released from his job as Turkey manager, it's a certainty he will appointed their new manager. He's already opened the door recently to returning back to the club he managed for 5 months in 2009, leading them to FA Cup success, a Champions League semi-final and a third placed finish in the Premier League.

The only other possible option is Manchester United, but like the Prince of Charles waiting for the Queen to pop her clogs, Hughes may be waiting a while before Ferguson steps away from the job which he has very much made his own. Even then, Hughes would have to contend with the likes of Mourinho, Moyes etc. who have been touted around over the past few years, and his previous experience with a top four club doesn't speak volumes.

What disappoints me most about Hughes' resignation is the potential prospects that could've been lying in wait for Fulham under his tenure. The squad at his disposal already has a strong spine from back to front; Schwarzer in goal, Hangeland commanding the defence, captain and playmaker Murphy in midfield and Zamora upfront. These players are complemented by the likes of Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey for example. Added to this, Hughes has a fantastic knowledge and a talent for scouting players across Europe, as shown with both Blackburn Rovers and Fulham, both where he's had to operate with a limited transfer budget. Signings such as Moussa Dembélé and Carlos Salcido from the lesser European league of Holland were shrewd signings, both who have been screaming out for Premier League clubs to sign them for some time. This is a club that two seasons ago reached the Europa League final and has finished in or around the top half since the 2008-09 season, surely with Hughes' transfer record and managerial abilities, he could've taken them even further?

The latest news from the Hughes camp and his agent is that he's prepared to wait up to a year to find the right job. All that can be said is that perhaps he's missed a trick and a great opportunity with Fulham thanks to his resignation. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, Mr. Hughes...