QPR manager Stewart Houston and his assistant Bruce Rioch last night parted company with the first division club following a board meeting at Loftus Road. Rangers are currently 13th in the first division after a 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

But the announcement is bound to heighten speculation that Rioch is set to take over as the new manager of Sheffield Wednesday.

A club statement said: "Following a meeting of the Board of QPR this evening, at which Stewart Houston was present, the club has reluctantly decided to release both Stewart Houston and Bruce Rioch from their current positions with immediate effect.

"The directors do not intend to make an immediate decision about the position of manager but a caretaker manager will be appointed in the interim period." Former Middlesbrough, Bolton and Arsenal boss Rioch (50), joined Rangers last as right-hand man to Houston.

The announcement comes ahead of today's a.g.m. of Loftus Road plc, the company owned by Rangers chairman Chris Wright and which also includes Wasps rugby union club.

Rioch revealed last night that he had been given no prior warning of the board's decision.

He said: "I was at home watching the Louise Woodward case on television when I turned on Ceefax and read that I had been sacked.

"Stewart Houston phoned me shortly after that to inform me of the board's decision and I told him `don't worry I've read it on TV'."