Me too.
I would add my suspicion that a possible reason for all of this is that - maybe - Pards did talk to West Ham about taking over from Zola until the little Italian clung on, and that NC either was told or found out. I think it also possible that Pards has agreed to go or NC has asked Hughes to take over as his 'punishment'. When it gets this complex, I'd say relations have broken down.
Mind you, could all be balls and just our/my paranoia. I'm not a massive fan of Pards but would opt for a bit of stability right now, certainly over Hughes, who I remember seemingly not really trying for us under Dave Jones (over 50 apps, two goals), and creating hostility in the dressing room, largely because of the wages he was taking.