Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insists Mark Hughes will still be the club’s manager next season.
There had been persistent question marks over his job for most of the season following the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
But the club’s chairman moved to quell the rumours ahead of City’s last match of the season against Bolton at Eastlands next weekend.
He told the Manchester Evening News: “I have been surprised at all the speculation because I have always been consistent with everyone on the subject of the manager.
“Every time I have spoken I have said we have the highest confidence in Mark and I would like to re-iterate that now. Mark will be our manager next season; nothing has changed.
“It has been a difficult season with all the rumours about Mark’s future and the number of players we have been linked with.
“There has been incredible and unnecessary pressure put on Mark from outside the club. From my perspective, I think we have come a long way and I am looking for a big finish to the season.
“We have accomplished things since January and now we can start focusing on next season.
“This is a club that has had 10 managers in 15 years and changes of ownership. It is hard to believe we have ever had a real pre-season.
“This time we will have that and will do so with a year’s experiences behind us and that will make us stronger. Next year is going to be better than this one. The club has a lot more stability.”
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