Mark Hughes' management return nearly didn't happen due to email gaffe

In pictures: Atletico Madrid v Man Utd

Eduardo Camavinga, Youri Tielemans or Jude Bellingham? | Which central midfielder would suit Liverpool best?

Arteta on Arsenal's top four ambitions after Wolves win

Mikel Arteta on contract extension rumours

Ukraine crisis: Russian flag is raised in Kakhovka

In pictures: Arsenal v Wolves

In pictures: Liverpool v Leeds

Mendy opens up on relationship with Chelsea rival Kepa

Premier League Team of the Week

Mark Hughes has been unveiled as Bradford City boss - but an email faux pas almost meant it didn't happen.

The former Manchester City and Wales manager made a surprise return to football after more than three years away, signing a two-and-a-half year contract with the League Two club.

But, speaking at Hughes' unveiling on Thursday, Bradford's chief executive Ryan Sparks revealed that the 58-year-old's application accidentally ended up in the club's spam folder.

Sparks admitted: “The truth of the matter is when it actually came through, we’ve had some issues with our emails and it was in my junk folder!

“I go through that every day and obviously I made a phone call very quickly to his representatives and explained ‘apologies for the three-hour delay, I’m usually on it but I would like to have a conversation with Mark’.

“That’s where it started. It started with a chuckle.

"I wouldn’t have expected Mark Hughes to be the next manager but once conversations started then I genuinely thought it was possible.

“This is not a Premier League club by any stretch, we don’t have the facilities that Mark will have had at other clubs but he’s not come into it looking at any negative thoughts, his eyes are wide open.”

Hughes comes into a club that is 10 points shy of the play-offs in what is