GARY Megson believes rival managers should always shake hands — whether they mean it or not.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refused to shake hands with Manchester City counterpart Mark Hughes after Wednesday night’s Carling Cup quarter-final.

Wenger had seen his young side beaten 3-0 at Eastlands and stormed straight down the tunnel at the final whistle.

Wanderers boss Megson added: “In my view you can do whatever you want, say whatever you like during the game but after the game, you should shake hands, even if you don’t particularly mean it.

“You should shake hands because people are watching and will draw their own conclusions if you don’t.

“I don’t think that is particularly good on Arsene’s part and I think he has done it before.

“What we have to do as managers is realise that, although it might not be a great big thing that someone doesn’t shake hands with another, the impact is huge, so everybody should do it.

“There are times where you might feel hurt about whatever has gone on or been said, but I do feel that you just shake hands and then go down the tunnel.

“You might not mean it but I think it’s a lot easier to deal with afterwards, even if you don’t get on too well with the person you have just shaken hands with, as opposed to not doing it at all.”