John Terry trial date will disrupt QPR's build-up, says Mark Hughes

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<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.22.4/16536?ns=guardian&pageName=John+Terry+trial+date+will+disrupt+QPR%27s+build-up%2C+says+Mark+Hughes%3AArticle%3A1698778&ch=Football&c3=Guardian&c4=QPR+%28Football%29%2CJohn+Terry%2CMark+Hughes+%28Football%29%2CChelsea+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c5=Premier+League&c6=Jamie+Jackson&c7=12-Feb-02&c8=1698778&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FQPR" width="1" height="1" /></div><p class="standfirst">• July trial to affect Anton Ferdinand's pre-season training<br />• 'No one discussed the date with me,' claims angry Hughes</p><p>The timing of John Terry's trial will disrupt pre-season for Anton Ferdinand and Queens Park Rangers, according to Mark Hughes.</p><p>The Chelsea captain, who denies allegations he made a racist comment to Ferdinand when the sides met in October, could face a five-day trial starting on 9 July. "Anton is obviously involved in the case and they have been given a date that is slap-bang in the middle of our pre-season from my point of view and Anton's point of view. That is going to impact on his preparation for a new season," the QPR manager said.</p><p>"I don't know how they have come up with the date, whether they have had discussions with the FA and [made sure] it doesn't impact on the Euros. They haven't discussed it with us. They have certainly not discussed the date with me. It seems to be set in stone and it's slap-bang in the middle of our pre-season operation when ideally I would want my player available.</p><p>"If John goes to the Euros it impacts on his holiday; it doesn't impact on his pre-season because he'll get a rest after the Euros. It's just in his down-time, it's not in Anton's down-time. My understanding is that we were not involved in the discussion about a date. I might be completely wrong but certainly I wasn't in that discussion if there was one.</p><p>"We'd like to have had a chance to put our point across to make them understand that there could be a little bit of an issue from our point of view."</p><p>It is understood that the Football Association was not consulted regarding the trial's date. The decision was taken by judge Howard Riddle at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, with a letter from Ron Gourlay, the Chelsea chief executive, part of the process.</p><p>Hughes is frustrated that the case cannot be heard earlier. "I think everybody believes it has been dragging on forever," he said. "From my point of view, and certainly Anton I would have thought, [we] would have preferred it to be done and dusted by now. I think everybody would."</p><p>Asked if he thought the date of the trial will also affect Fabio Capello's England side at the European Championship, Hughes said: "Well that's a decision for England. I'm sure discussions will be held in that regard on whether it will have a negative impact in terms of selection but it's not for me to comment."</p><p>QPR host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday having picked up four points from their past two league outings to take them to 16th in the Premier League and Hughes said: "The target is to stay up. I think it's important we take something from every game. We've beaten Wigan and got a good point at [Aston] Villa. If we can get maximum points at the weekend, it's seven from three and that's a decent return. That's what we need to do, keep picking up points."</p><p>Hughes, who is likely to pair his new signings Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cissé for the first time against Wolves, stated he was content with the draw at Villa despite squandering a two-goal lead. "There was disappointment in the dressing room because we were leading 2-0 but it's a good sign that you are disappointed about getting a point at Villa Park. Beforehand we would have been delighted with a point."</p><div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/qpr">QPR</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/john-terry">John Terry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/mark-hughes">Mark Hughes</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/chelsea">Chelsea</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamiejackson">Jamie Jackson</a></div><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div><p style="clear:both" />
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