Hughes left Craven Cottage three days ago after one season at the helm, turning down the offer of a new deal but claiming he had had no contact with any other club.

The 47-year-old will now sit back and assess his options, with a move to Europe a possibility as he seeks a job which would allow him to challenge for honours.

Joorabchian told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "As a manager he has ambitions to really compete at the top level and be the best he can.

"[Fulham] are where they are. They are a great top-10, mid-table club and I think Mark really wants to be right up there competing in the Champions League positions, up there competing for titles. He'd like to win some cups.

"He sat down and thought about it and thought if he signs a two-year contract now and they go and buy players in the transfer market, but all the time looking over his shoulder thinking 'well if a bigger job comes along, a top-four club or maybe a place in Portugal, Spain, Germany, Italy that allows him to compete...' then he'd be sort of keen to move and that would be unfair to Fulham.

"He wanted to tell them and give them plenty of time. There was no better time to do so than at the end of the season."

Joorabchian insists the timing of his client's resignation was merely "unfortunate" and not connected with the managerial vacancies at Aston Villa and Chelsea.

"[The timing] was an unfortunate circumstance. The timing of the situation was such there were a couple of vacancies available," he said.

"It had nothing to do with it whatsoever. You all realise Mark Hughes is a sincere man. He wouldn't do that.

"This has nothing to do with Aston Villa or Chelsea or any other club. Mark Hughes made a decision to leave Fulham purely and simply because he didn't want to commit two years then look over his shoulder and disappoint them by leaving in the middle of his contract."

Asked about the possibility of the former Chelsea player returning to Stamford Bridge for a role in the dugout, Joorabchian replied: "There's a vacancy there but I'm sure they have their own planning. We have not spoken to them. They have not spoken to us.

"It's a club he has played for so he knows the club well but it would be disrespectful of us to say 'yes, we'd like to go there' or here or whatever. It's a case of Mark sitting on the sidelines and seeing what opportunities there will be throughout Europe."

Meanwhile, Fulham striker Bobby Zamora has revealed his surprise at Hughes' decision to quit.

Zamora said: "It was a total shock, him resigning. I was surprised.

"There was no hint of it. It leaves us waiting for another manager.

"It was going well. Everyone had bought into his ideas and were just starting to play the way he wanted.

"He has decided not to stay and we go on and try and find another manager and hope we do well.

"But Mark has got his reasons. I don't blame him at all. It's one of those things. Managers and players come and go."

Zamora believes it is important Fulham find a replacement quickly as the players report back for pre-season training on June 23 - with the Cottagers' beginning their Europa League qualifying campaign a week later.

He said: "We just want the right person for the club.

"We are back in training on June 23, we've got a game on the 30th in the Europa League. It would be nice if the managerial thing is sorted before we come back.

"If it takes time to find the right person, then fair enough.

"We have to take our time and find the right person."