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Warnock sacked as QPR boss; Hughes in

Comment: 0 January 9th, 2012 by: admin

THE points have been hard to come by recently and Queen’s Park Rangers’ future is in trouble.

It is under these circumstances that Neil Warnock has ceased to be manager for the club.

On Sunday, QPR fired Warnock after admitting they are worried of what is in store for them in the Premier League.

The Hoops have lost six of their last eight league matches and are mired at 17^th spot, just one point above the relegation zone in their first season back in the top-tier tournament after 15 years.

“The board’s commitment to retaining our Premier league status ultimately led to this decision,’’ the club said in announcing the end of Warnock’s 22-month stay at Loftus Road.

Chief club owner Tony Fernandes said the 63-year-old Warnock has already agreed to a compensation package connected with the latter’s departure along with his assistants Keith Curle and Mick Jones.

Fernandez and co-owner Amit Bhatia have already named former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes to take over the coaching chores at QPR along with his right-hand men Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki.

In his last match in-charge, Warnock saw his west London side held to a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup on Saturday by third-tier team MK Dons.

During the fixture, QPR was dealt a major blow when key playmaker Alejandro Faurlin injured his knee and the Argentine announced ion Twitter a day after that he will be out the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Fernandez, the Malaysian tycoon whose Tune Group bought QPR last August, said he watched his team slip alarmingly down the table and this was the main reason why he fired Warnock.

But Fernandes still thanked Warnock for his significant contribution. “Neil acted with honesty, professionalism and integrity throughout his time at the club, and I would personally like to thank him.’’

Warnock, who had previous stints at Crystal palace and Sheffield United before coaching at QPR, said he was disappointed. “But having achieved so much, I leave the club with a great sense of pride. I have enjoyed my time at QPR more than anywhere else and the fans have been brilliant with me – they deserve success.’’

Fernandes is expected to formalise Hughes’ appointment upon his return to England before the end of the week.

Hughes was sacked as Manchester City manager in 2010, but Fernandes sees the Welshman as the perfect candidate to steer QPR.

Along with his feats during difficult times, Hughes’ repute as an Old Trafford legend also bodes well for Fernandes’ global marketing vision for the west London outfit.

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