So Sparky has the nod, back at the helm of a Premiership club after being shipped out of Eastlands last December. With his impressive record in management and outstanding playing career, it needed a big man to fill Hodgson's shoes. Hughes looks the best equipped of those on offer to do it.

Fiercly competitive as a player and demanding much of his players as a manager, Hughes has just over two weeks to get Fulham fired up for the new season. The new manager's approach and team talks will be in stark contrast to his predecessor, while Whites fans will wonder if we are in for a change of style. Blackburn under Hughes could be a combative proposition, but then if we stop laying down in front of the oppositon next season on the road, who's going to complain?

Yet again it's to the board's credit that a transfer kitty around £15 million pounds is part of the package to entice Hughes down from the north-west. Craig Bellamy may well be top of the shopping list. Now there's a character unlikely to be universally welcome down at the Cottage.

Just for the record the Welshman served his country as manager in a 5 year spell before taking charge at Ewood Park. In four seasons he guided Rovers to three domestic cup semi-finals and 6th place in the 2005/6 season that saw them qualify for the UEFA Cup. He then had two years at Man City before the new owners decided to dump him and go for a stellar appointment.

Supporters will at least be delighted to see an end to the uncertainty over who took over, it's been a month now since Hodgson headed up to the Mersey. And the situation was starting to get to the players. Steve Sidwell's move from Aston Villa is in place, just requiring a nod from Hughes, so we could be in for an exciting run up to game one as Mark looks to spend the next slice of MAF's largesse.

We've hardly been out of the news since the start of the year, so with the arrival of Mark, what's your take on the next stage in FFC's remarkable journey?