Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has revealed that he will not contest his FA charge for improper conduct.
Hughes was sent to the stands during his side's 5-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United on Boxing Day having reacted angrily to referee Martin Atkinson's decision to send Glenn Whelan off.
Marc Wilson was also dismissed shortly after his manager, but despite Hughes's displeasure at the referee's performance, he acknowledged that he would be unlikely to succeed with an appeal so has decided to accept the charge.
"I got pulled up on the fact I kicked a ball onto the pitch. That's a fact, so there's no way around it. I can't really defend that, that's what I did. If that's what the issue is, I'm going to have to hold my hands up," Hughes is quoted as saying by PA.
Stoke are planning an official complaint against Martin Atkinson following his performance in the match.
Barney Corkhill
