With the Magpies set to net a sum of at least £40,000, it could mean Icelandic boss Gudjon Thordarson is given the freedom to sign one or two extra players before the season starts two weeks tomorrow.
And Chairman Steve Thompson was understandably delighted at the news.
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"But obviously there is money for the club which we did not expect and every little helps.
"Money is tight and last year we had to rebuild the club and deal with the old contracts.
"So this is very good news and a real bonus for the club.
"As for the deal, how much it is and whether it will be paid in instalments or on appearances, we do not know.
"But there will be some sort of initial payment so we are delighted with the news."
Amazingly, the Hughes transfer sell-on clause was one not sold cheaply during the club's time in administration, which saw the administrators waive the rights to a sell-on fee for Steve Finnan - then at Fulham - and Jermaine Pennant, in favour of a far smaller immediate sum.
Promising wide-man Hughes left Meadow Lane in the summer of 2001, where a tribunal ruled that Reading would have to pay the Magpies a fee of £250,000 rising to £300,000 based on add-ons for the now 27-year-old, who has continued to improve since his move to the Majeski Stadium.
The Stockport-born man spent three years at Meadow Lane, after signing in 1998. The former Oldham trainee made a total of 128 appearences for the Magpies, scoring 20 goals.
We continue to wish him well.