It's been revealed how Mark Hughes personally helped Manchester City to sign Craig Bellamy.

The Sun says Hughes gave City's wealthy sheikh owners £250,000 of his own money to help buy Bellamy.

But despite his astonishing gesture and unstinting loyalty, Hughes was axed on Saturday.

Hughes had proved how committed he was to City by dipping into his own pocket to help buy one of the club's star performers.

Bellamy dazzled again by scoring in Sparky's last game, the 4-3 win against Sunderland.

Hughes signed him for £14million in January this year but the deal nearly collapsed when City found themselves £250,000 short.

Chief executive Garry Cook frantically told Hughes the deal could not be completed - so the City boss lent the money to clinch the signing.