WELSH fans' love affair with Mark Hughes twisted the arm of soccer chiefs to offer him a lucrative four-year deal as national team boss, writes Peter Shuttleworth.

The new Welsh FA management committee chairman Ken Tucker admitted the Football Association of Wales and 39-year-old Hughes were "delighted" with him signing on the dotted line and added: "We've got one of the best young mangers in the game."

Wales are unbeaten in a record-equalling eight games and are top of Euro 2004 qualifying Group Nine after three straight wins - but it's the fanatical support the Welsh public have shown over the past 12 months that finally persuaded the FAW to make 72-times capped Hughes the highest paid manager in their history.

The roll-on deal - that will end after the World Cup finals in 2006 - is reported to earn Hughes £175,000 in the first year rising to £250,000 in 2006 with a bumper six-figure bonus if he can steer Wales to the Euro 2004 or the World Cup in Germany.

"The Welsh fans love Mark Hughes," said Tucker. "They will even pack the Millennium Stadium for a qualifying game with Azerbaijan. Eighteen months ago we would have struggled to get half that.

"The national team has made great strides since Mark took over and this contract is his reward for the hard work he's put in."

Even though the deal breaks Welsh footballing records, Tuckers knows that Nationwide League clubs, who were trailing Hughes before he signed, could offer even bigger deals.

But Tucker quickly replied: "Mark's a proud Welshman and he still believes we can get better.

"Because Wales have done well, Mark will be a wanted man but he is committed to his country's cause."

A big incentive for Hughes to put pen to paper is the promise from the FAW of a testimonial game at the Millennium Stadium if Wales qualify for Portugal 2004, possibly against Hughes' old club Manchester United.

And the FAW have added compensation clauses to his deal meaning they can recoup £250,000 if Hughes leaves for a Premiership club or £125,000 if a Division One outfit lures him away.

Hughes, who is now preparing for Wales' Millennium Stadium friendly with Bosnia on February 12, is the hot favourite to scoop tonight's BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year.