He managed the Cymru Premier club Newtown from November 2013 to January 2024, leading them to the Welsh Cup final in 2015 – their first since 1897 – and three qualifications for UEFA competitions.
[2] Newtown regularly finished low in the table before Hughes's arrival, having been spared relegation from the 2011–12 Welsh Premier League because of the conditions of other clubs.
[6] Fifteen days later, they won 2–1 away to Aberystwyth Town in the play-off final to qualify for the UEFA Europa League; Tomos Hughes of the North Wales Pioneer named him Manager of the Season for this feat.
[12] Hughes's club won 6–4 on aggregate over HB Tórshavn of the Faroe Islands in the first qualifying round before falling 6–2 over two games to FC Spartak Trnava of Slovakia in the second.
[14] He said he was proud that his first managerial job had lasted over a decade, but said that the club was now in a safe place to move on, and he wanted to spend more time with his family.