MARK Hughes was back at Brockhall today hoping to get the bitter disappointment of the last few days firmly out of his system.

Hughes's five year reign as the manager of Wales ended in heartache last night as the Principality's 3-2 defeat against Poland virtually dashed their hopes of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup finals.

It was hardly the kind of send-off Hughes had hoped for as he waved goodbye to international football in order to concentrate on the task of managing Blackburn Rovers full-time.

But the 40-year-old cannot afford to dwell on what might have been as Rovers face a vital Premiership encounter with Middlesbrough in 48 hours' time.

Hughes had desperately wanted to leave Wales in a strong position to qualify for their first major finals since 1958.

However, back-to-back group six defeats against England and Poland over the last five days have virtually spelled the end of their qualifying dreams.

Sadly, those results have tainted Hughes's record as an international manager and several critics were quick to point the finger last night.

But the Blackburn boss is adamant he has dragged his country into the 21st century and he has begged the Football Association of Wales to appoint the type of successor who can build on the firm foundations he has left behind.

"The players have given me everything in terms of effort over the last five years," said an emotional Hughes.

"Now they have got to make sure they stick together and get behind whoever gets the job.

"We are a decent squad, in good shape. A lot of hard work has gone in over the last five years and it would be a shame to unpick that because we have not got to a position where we want to go.

"It is not my decision who comes in but I am sure the FAW will think long and hard over who they feel is the right person.

"What they have is a group of players determined to do well for Wales and give everything they have got.

"I have put a lot of hard work in and tried to push Welsh football forward but I think the players now need to hear different voices."

Whoever ultimately takes over from Hughes faces a difficult job of reviving Welsh fortunes, particularly as several leading members of the squad have hinted they are ready to quit.

Veteran skipper Gary Speed announced his retirement from international football immediately after last night's game - and that was after Hughes had admitted there was already a dearth of talent from which to pick.

"It's difficult," said the former Manchester United star.

"I have put a lot of hard work in and so have the players and my staff.

"The players deserve more than what they have achieved for the effort they have put in.

"But football is a hard game and you don't always get what you deserve."

Now Hughes must switch his attention to Middlesbrough and the job of firing Rovers up the Premier League table.

His biggest concern ahead of Saturday's game is the state of those players in his squad who have been away on international duty.

Brett Emerton and Lucas Neill, in particular, will need close monitoring over the next 24 hours after making the gruelling trip back from Australia, where they were in Confederations Cup action against the Solomon Islands.

Barry Ferguson's hamstring problem is also a concern, even though the 26-year-old played a full 90 minutes for Scotland in Moldova last night.