BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes fears for the future of the competition he loves most of all.

In an age when the Premiership has become all-consuming, Hughes reckons the FA Cup could lose its magic unless the men in suits take steps to preserve the mystic that surrounds it.

When Hughes played abroad with Barcelona in the late 1980s, he saw for himself how domestic cup competitions were often neglected and tossed to one-side because they were viewed as a distraction.

Now the Rovers chief, who won the FA Cup four times as a player, fears the same could happen in England because the fear of getting relegated from the Premiership has forced many of his managerial counterparts into changing their priorities.

Hughes, who takes his side to Everton tomorrow for a third round tie, said: "The FA Cup is not as high on the list of priorities as it used to be in the days of old when winning it was a fantastic thing.

"Of course that still is but, in the whole scheme of things, it's not as high profile a competition as it possibly was when I was starting off.

"Finishing fourth in the Premiership seems more important now and that's a shame.

"The competition is world renowned and the memories that it has generated over the years is something to be grateful for, and something to cherish.

"But it's just a changing world, people's priorities change, and the significance of certain things in the world has changed for many people.

"There's still that romance to the cup - that's still there.

"But it's not viewed in quite the same way as it used to be."

The FA Cup has always been held in greater esteem than any other domestic cup competition in world football, mainly because of the tradition and mystic that surrounds it.

However, if the FA aren't careful, Hughes believes there could be a time when it's viewed with the same indifference as many of the cup competitions on the continent.

"I just remember my time abroad and their national cups didn't really garner much attention, or were of any significance. It was just another fixture," said the Rovers boss.

"I thought at the time I hope this never happens to the FA Cup', and that still holds true.

"I just remember the cup competitions were seen as an inconvenience abroad.

"I think the way the FA Cup is viewed has changed and I just hope the FA realise they've got a fantastic competition and they're doing everything in their power to protect it."

Few people have a greater affinity for the FA Cup than Hughes, who managed to lift it four times in his playing career with Manchester United and Chelsea.

Now the Rovers chief would dearly love to win it as a manager because nothing gets his juices flowing quite like that whiff of Wembley.

"The FA Cup has played a big part in my career, and shaped my career, so I've got great affection for it," said Hughes.

"It's a fantastic competition and when you get through to the latter stages and the semi-finals, you start smelling the hot-dogs and there's a real buzz about the place.

"Although it's fantastic winning titles, and that's the yardstick you will always be judged on, having a one-off day where you actually get to walk up some steps and lift a cup over your head is very special."

If Hughes' players needed any extra incentive to mount an FA Cup run this season, then the prospect of becoming one of the first teams to play at the new Wembley is likely to put an extra spring in their steps.

But Hughes himself would prefer it if this year's final was staged in Cardiff again.

The Welshman added: "I have to say I think the Millennium Stadium's done very well for you!

"It wouldn't upset me too much if it stayed in Cardiff.

"In fairness, it's going to have to be a Hell of a stadium to recreate the atmosphere of the Millennium.

"I think the FA have spent about three times as much money to try and get the same effect, and I hope that's the case."