QPR have confirmed they have terminated the contract of Mark Hughes “with immediate effect”. The decision follows last week’s defeat at the hands of fellow-strugglers Southampton, with the London outfit now sitting four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League.
Despite continued backing from owner Tony Fernandes over his safety, it’s no surprise to see Hughes leaving Loftus Road. Without a win this term, QPR have managed a single clean sheet and have netted just twice in the past five Gameweeks.
Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki will now take charge for tomorrow’s trip to United but the possible replacements are already building up, with Harry Redknapp favoured by many. Indeed, the Telegraph are so confident of this transpiring, they reckon an appointment could happen today.
With games against Sunderland, Villa and Wigan to directly follow the Old Trafford match, QPR are handed the perfect chance to secure crucial victories against their fellow-strugglers. Despite a summer of investment, Hughes seemed unable to instill any consistency to confidence into his charges and his continual first-team tinkering proved detrimental to his own fate in the end. With the likes of Julio Cesar, Stephane Mbia, Esteban Granero and Adel Taarabt amongst their ranks, though, the quality is clearly there, though – if results pick up under the new man in charge, they could be instrumental in turning a hugely disappointing season around.
