West Brom have lost a little bit of ground in recent weeks, and with Nottingham Forest on an amazing run ... we have to say the Reds are our biggest rivals in our push for promtion.
So, for Hughton to go banging on the door at the City Ground asking for their star player, it takes a man of nerve.
He was told to 'nick off' ... as expected ... but it was an interesting excercise.
Billy Davies had perviously valued the player at around £1m, but NOT to Newcastle United.
Davies: "We must be doing something right if other teams in our division want our players.
"But we are looking to build a squad at the City Ground rather than dismantle one, and James is not leaving.
"Newcastle's offer for someone we value so highly as a player and an individual was derisory and I'm disappointed it made it into the public domain.
"That's not our way of doing business."
Perch rose to be a star at Forest under the guidance of Toon assistant boss Colin Calderwood.
Perch was club captain but suffered from a stress fracture of the shin that kept him out of action at the City Ground.