Hughes confirmed as QPR manager

Soccer:Mark Hughes was today confirmed as QPR's new manager after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the west London club. The 48-year-old succeeded Neil Warnock, who lost his job on Sunday night after Rangers slumped to within a point of the Premier League relegation zone.

Hughes appeared already to have been earmarked as Warnock’s replacement, with the former Manchester City and Wales boss commencing formal talks with QPR yesterday.

Hughes quit Fulham at the end of last season after less than a year in charge, suggesting the club’s ambitions did not match his own. He therefore sought assurances on that front from QPR before agreeing to join the Championship winners, who were taken over earlier this season by Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes.

Reports suggest Fernandes is ready to bankroll a January recruitment drive which could see between €20 million-€30 million of new talent arrive at Loftus Road, with plans for a new 30,000 seater stadium also in the pipeline.

Hughes, who will take charge of first-team training this afternoon before being formally unveiled tomorrow, told the club’s official website, www.qpr.co.uk: “It’s a great feeling to be back in football and to be the manager of QPR. I’m fully aware of the challenge in the short and long term and I am genuinely excited about the ambition of the owners.

“Nobody can doubt the history of this great football club and the passion of its fantastically loyal supporters. Now the immediate priority is to consolidate our place in the Barclays Premier League, but beyond that, the future is very bright and fills me with great enthusiasm.”

Hughes, who had been linked with both Aston Villa and Sunderland since quitting Fulham, will be joined at QPR by assistant manager Mark Bowen, first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki and goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock.

A raft of players have been linked with Rangers, including Didier Drogba, Alex, Christopher Samba, Nedum Onuoha, Darren Bent, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Bridge and Brazilian striker Henrique.

They have already seen a bid rejected for Fulham forward Andy Johnson, who like Blackburn defender Samba has played under Hughes. Hughes’ first game in charge will be Sunday’s trip to Newcastle, before which QPR could find themselves in the bottom three.