Bellamy, Given mull quitting Man City

Football stars Craig Bellamy and Shay Given are considering quitting Manchester City in protest over the shabby sacking of coach Mark 'Sparky' Hughes.

The pair have proved to be Hughes's best signings in his 18 months at Eastlands.

Bellamy is particularly loyal to Hughes, having played under him at Blackburn and with Wales.

Keeper Given made the tough choice to leave Newcastle because of Hughes and the way the Welshman sold the ambitions of the club to him.

Both feel let down by chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive officer Garry Cook, reports The Sun.

The pair was particularly emotional after Saturday's 4-3 victory over Sunderland at Eastlands which proved to be Hughes's last game.

They led a six-player delegation to complain to Cook about the sacking.

And they have told close friends they are now considering their futures.

It will be a massive blow to new coach Roberto Mancini if the pair decides to leave.