LONDON: Mark Hughes’ uneasy 10-month spell at Queens Park Rangers came to end on Friday when he was fired by the Premier League’s last-place team, possibly paving the way for Harry Redknapp to return to English football as a replacement.
Hughes became the second Premier League manager to be sacked this week — after Roberto Di Matteo at Chelsea on Wednesday — with the team without a victory this campaign and on just four points from 12 games.
“Mark has shown integrity and professionalism throughout his time here, but ultimately the circumstances we find ourselves in have left the board of directors with very little choice but to make a change,” QPR said in a statement.
Redknapp is the massive favorite with some British bookmakers to replace Hughes, having done little to dampen fevered speculation at the weekend. Redknapp was fired by Tottenham in June, despite leading the club to a fourth-place finish last season, and had been in talks with Ukraine’s football federation about taking over the national team.
Hughes’ future at Loftus Road was left in the balance after Saturday’s abject 3-1 loss to Southampton, a result that led to fans turning on the former Manchester United and Barcelona striker.
“Maybe it’s a watershed moment because we can’t get any lower,” a despondent Hughes said.
