WALES boss Mark Hughes could be lured to Deepdale in a triple-your-salary deal. Nationwide First Division Preston North End are prepared to offer the former Manchester United star £300,000 a year to become their new manager.

Hughes still has two years to run on his current Football Association of Wales contract, worth about £100,000 a year.

The Argus can reveal that he was interviewed for the job on Wednesday.

Preston will finish interviewing at the weekend but Hughes is a serious contender, along with former Scotland boss Craig Brown, Bryan Robson and Bobby Gould - Hughes' Wales predecessor.

It emerged last night that ex-Blackburn Rovers manager, Kenny Dalglish and ex-Leicester City boss Peter Taylor, now manager at newly-promoted Brighton, are also now in the frame.

Hughes' international future has now been thrown into doubt as Wales prepare for the Euro 2004 qualifiers which begin this September.

An FAW source said today: "Whether Mark would be allowed to continue as the Welsh national team manager and manage Preston will be a council decision.

"Some would be against that whereas others wouldn't mind. It has been done before by previous Wales managers."

But he claimed: "It is nowhere near the salary which has been mentioned - if he were to manage Preston.

"I would think it unlikely for Mark to walk away from Wales."