Hughes was not officially informed of the decision to dispense with his services until after the 4-3 win over Sunderland.

Yet the former Wales chief must have known given the widespread rumours that began circulating on the day of the game and his pointed decision to applaud the crowd immediately after the final whistle.

With Roberto Mancini already in place and ready to take over, chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak wanted to inform Hughes face to face and jumped on a plane to perform the task.

But given he touched down at 10am - five hours before kick-off - it is staggering Hughes was not spared the humiliation that unfolded.

"There seems to be an overwhelming theory that there was a conspiracy," said Cook. "There was no conspiracy.

"Like any other business we have plans and targets; and we have contingencies for when those plans and targets are not being met.

"The chairman has been nothing but transparent with Mark throughout his tenure and the decision to end it was a unanimous one taken by the chairman, myself and the board.

"The intention was to tell Mark immediately after the game on Saturday. Regrettably, and despite our best efforts, rumours of discussions with Roberto Mancini became public."

As Cook refused to answer any questions, or clarify the salient points from a lengthy, pre-prepared statement, he did not address the issue of why Hughes was not simply sacked on Wednesday or Thursday as City moved for Mancini.

It will hardly help the Eastlands outfit's public profile, which has suffered a series of self-inflicted blows, culminating in Saturday's debacle.

Indeed, Cook seemed at a loss to understand why anyone should question his version of events, despite the fact he has been among those at City to continually stress the club's super-rich owner Sheikh Mansour had a long-term vision and would not make knee-jerk reactions.

Yet that is exactly what has happened given City would be exactly on target for the 70 points set by Sheikh Mansour, Khaldoon and Cook before the start of the season if they win their next two matches against Stoke and Wolves.

"The playing staff agreed that target with the board following the accelerated player acquisition activity in the summer transfer window," continued Cook.

"The trajectory of recent results was below this requirement and the board felt that there was no evidence that the situation would fundamentally change."

Yet those recent results include a victory over Chelsea and another against Arsenal that booked City a Carling Cup semi-final meeting with Manchester United next month, their first domestic last four outing in 28 years.

In fact, Mancini's first meeting with the City hierarchy took place in London a fortnight ago, after the tame draw with Hull which is said was the trigger for Hughes' departure.

At best, it looks suspicious, at worst, part of the conspiracy Cook is adamant did not exist.

Yet, Mancini insists the discussions between an out-of-work manager and the owner and chairman of the world's richest club were just general.

"They wanted to speak with me about Inter Milan and other teams," said Mancini, who did well to remain aloof from a bear-pit atmosphere to greet his arrival.

"In Italy it would be a normal situation. Khaldoon is a man of sport."

The telephone call to ask Mancini to take over as manager came on Thursday. The deal concluded within 24 hours.

"I was Inter Milan manager for four years. I won three league titles. At the end of the last season, I was sacked.

"Sometimes these things happen. I feel sorry for Mark Hughes. But this is our job, the job of a manager."

Mancini claims he did not need to seek advice about City, or the men running the club, before deciding to take charge.

However, the Italian will quickly learn the goodwill that has existed towards the Blues for so long has now evaporated.

And he already knows their Abu Dhabi-based owners are as ruthless and trigger happy as all the rest.