‘Let down’ Hughes blasts Stokes

HIBERNIAN manager John Hughes admits he feels ‘let down’ by Anthony Stokes after the striker was reportedly involved in a nightclub row.

Reports over the weekend claimed the Dubliner had been embroiled in a bust-up in a nightclub after Hibs’ defeat by Hamilton earlier this month.

Hughes has investigated the matter and has been left bitterly disappointed by what he has discovered about the incident. He has suggested Stokes, who scored his first goals for Hibs in Saturday’s 3-0 win over St Johnstone, has betrayed his trust.

“It’s bitterly disappointing, really it is – especially when it’s me who’s put my name to him,’’ said Hughes. “That’s the galling thing; you feel let down.

“You talk them up, what these guys can do, and then you wake up on the Saturday morning and you’ve got a big custard pie stuck in your face.’’

Hughes would not confirm whether Stokes had been disciplined over the incident, saying only that the matter had been dealt with internally.

He said: “We’ve now drawn a line under it and we have to move on. We don’t condone that whatsoever. We take our own course of action and that’s it finished.’’

Hughes feels Stokes may have been the victim of a “stitch-up’’ but added: “I don’t think there’s any smoke without fire; the bottom line is he shouldn’t have been there in the first place.’