On This Day: QPR's One Win Under Tommy Docherty...Ian Gillard Making His QPR Debut...Also Today: Alan Mullery Turns 71.
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MARK HUGHES AXED BY QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - Hughes contract terminated with immediate effect
QUEENS Park Rangers Football Club has today (Friday) terminated the contract of manager Mark Hughes with immediate effect.
This decision has been taken after careful consideration by the Board of Directors, following numerous meetings over the last few days.
The Board of Directors wish to thank Mark for his commitment, hard work and dedication in his ten months in charge.
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.
The Board will now be working actively to put a new managerial structure in place as soon as possible.
Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki will take charge of the R's trip to Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
The club will be making a further announcement in due course. QPR .
- (Never did get a Club Response: ...But Hannukah will arrive in a couple of weeks (First Night: December 8)! "An Open Question to QPR - QPR: A Club Supported by Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists...and Jews: So Why the Club Silence re Jewish Holidays?"
- Stat: QPR's First Win in 1968/1969 Season was...Their 13th Game. (QPR's game at Manchester United is...our 13th Game!)
Chronicle/Tim STreet -
Martin Rowlands blasts QPR's under-achieving stars
MARTIN Rowlands has laid into QPR’s under-achieving stars for letting down boss Mark Hughes.
The Welshman is clinging on to his job at Loftus Road after last weekend’s 3-1 loss to fellow strugglers Southampton left them rooted to the table and without a win from their opening 12 games.
Rowlands, who played more than 200 times in nine years for Rs before leaving in January, has no doubt where the blame should lie.
He said: "The majority of the players have let the manager down big time. Some of them need to take a long hard look at themselves as they are not doing enough.
Road Hug
"The owner has invested a lot of cash in them, and they are on staggering wages for a club like QPR, but they are not doing the business.
"They have not made a mistake (keeping Hughes on). He has been a top manager everywhere he has been before, and I hope he can turn things around.
"He won’t shy away from a challenge, but there will be a point where the board will think how long can they leave it.
"However, the club needs stability right now. I have the utmost respect for Mark. Even though our paths only crossed for a few weeks at QPR, he treated me right, unlike the previous manager there."
Rowlands now plays for Leyton Orient in League One with another former QPR favourite, Lee Cook. Both are Rs fans and he admits it hurts to see them struggle. He believes the key to turning their fortunes around lies at Loftus Road.
Rowlands added: "QPR’s is always the first result me and Cooky look for after a game, and it’s not nice seeing them lose every week and propping up the table.
"Loftus Road was always a fortress for us, and they need to make it one again. The fans always gave the players a big lift and created some noise, but it must be difficult for them to get it going at the moment."
Fulham Chronicle
Martin Rowlands blasts QPR's under-achieving stars
MARTIN Rowlands has laid into QPR’s under-achieving stars for letting down boss Mark Hughes.
The Welshman is clinging on to his job at Loftus Road after last weekend’s 3-1 loss to fellow strugglers Southampton left them rooted to the table and without a win from their opening 12 games.
Rowlands, who played more than 200 times in nine years for Rs before leaving in January, has no doubt where the blame should lie.
He said: "The majority of the players have let the manager down big time. Some of them need to take a long hard look at themselves as they are not doing enough.
Road Hug
"The owner has invested a lot of cash in them, and they are on staggering wages for a club like QPR, but they are not doing the business.
"They have not made a mistake (keeping Hughes on). He has been a top manager everywhere he has been before, and I hope he can turn things around.
"He won’t shy away from a challenge, but there will be a point where the board will think how long can they leave it.
"However, the club needs stability right now. I have the utmost respect for Mark. Even though our paths only crossed for a few weeks at QPR, he treated me right, unlike the previous manager there."
Rowlands now plays for Leyton Orient in League One with another former QPR favourite, Lee Cook. Both are Rs fans and he admits it hurts to see them struggle. He believes the key to turning their fortunes around lies at Loftus Road.
Rowlands added: "QPR’s is always the first result me and Cooky look for after a game, and it’s not nice seeing them lose every week and propping up the table.
"Loftus Road was always a fortress for us, and they need to make it one again. The fans always gave the players a big lift and created some noise, but it must be difficult for them to get it going at the moment."
Fulham Chronicle
MIRROR/John Cross
Sunday best: QPR poised to sack boss Hughes and bring in Redknapp
22 Nov 2012 22:32
The Premier League's winless bottom club are set to wait one more game rather than ask the new manager to start with Manchester United away
January sales: Redknapp will be able to make moves in the winter window January sales: Redknapp will be able to make moves in the winter window
Michael Regan
Harry Redknapp has been lined up to return to management at Queens Park Rangers - but not until after their weekend trip to Manchester United.
Former Spurs boss Redknapp and his advisers have been sounded out by QPR to take charge once this weekend's game is out of the way.
It leaves Mark Hughes effectively a dead man walking into Old Trafford, where Rangers fear they are on a hiding to nothing.
QPR have finally decided to act after a desperate start to the Premier League campaign, which leaves a squad totally overhauled by the signing of 12 new players in the summer rock bottom and without a single league win.
Their hand was forced when the Ukraine FA made overtures to Redknapp this week, and even held negotiations with his agent, Paul Stretford, in Kiev.
Although Redknapp insisted he was "serious" about taking charge of Ukraine, the 65-year-old is desperate for a return to Premier League management after being axed by Tottenham in the summer.
It is believed that QPR are confident Redknapp will take charge as early as Sunday.
Rangers present the perfect way back for Redknapp as he can commute easily to west London each day from his home on the South Coast and will be allowed to try to revamp the squad in the January transfer window.
Hughes has spent this week in limbo as he has not been given a clear indication about his future, apart from believing he will be left in charge for the trip to Old Trafford.
Chairman Tony Fernandes has been fulsome in his support of Hughes and has even held off a split in the hierarchy as some factions felt they needed a change sooner.
But even Fernandes now realises that QPR will go down unless their fortunes improve quickly and dramatically.
There is even more money at stake for Premier League clubs next season because of a raft of new TV deals.
It means clubs simply cannot afford to go down in May.
QPR also have players on big contracts that would leave them in desperate trouble in the event of a drop back to the Championship - most do not have relegation clauses in their deals that would automatically slash their salaries in the Championship Mirror
Sunday best: QPR poised to sack boss Hughes and bring in Redknapp
22 Nov 2012 22:32
The Premier League's winless bottom club are set to wait one more game rather than ask the new manager to start with Manchester United away
January sales: Redknapp will be able to make moves in the winter window January sales: Redknapp will be able to make moves in the winter window
Michael Regan
Harry Redknapp has been lined up to return to management at Queens Park Rangers - but not until after their weekend trip to Manchester United.
Former Spurs boss Redknapp and his advisers have been sounded out by QPR to take charge once this weekend's game is out of the way.
It leaves Mark Hughes effectively a dead man walking into Old Trafford, where Rangers fear they are on a hiding to nothing.
QPR have finally decided to act after a desperate start to the Premier League campaign, which leaves a squad totally overhauled by the signing of 12 new players in the summer rock bottom and without a single league win.
Their hand was forced when the Ukraine FA made overtures to Redknapp this week, and even held negotiations with his agent, Paul Stretford, in Kiev.
Although Redknapp insisted he was "serious" about taking charge of Ukraine, the 65-year-old is desperate for a return to Premier League management after being axed by Tottenham in the summer.
It is believed that QPR are confident Redknapp will take charge as early as Sunday.
Rangers present the perfect way back for Redknapp as he can commute easily to west London each day from his home on the South Coast and will be allowed to try to revamp the squad in the January transfer window.
Hughes has spent this week in limbo as he has not been given a clear indication about his future, apart from believing he will be left in charge for the trip to Old Trafford.
Chairman Tony Fernandes has been fulsome in his support of Hughes and has even held off a split in the hierarchy as some factions felt they needed a change sooner.
But even Fernandes now realises that QPR will go down unless their fortunes improve quickly and dramatically.
There is even more money at stake for Premier League clubs next season because of a raft of new TV deals.
It means clubs simply cannot afford to go down in May.
QPR also have players on big contracts that would leave them in desperate trouble in the event of a drop back to the Championship - most do not have relegation clauses in their deals that would automatically slash their salaries in the Championship Mirror
QPR REPORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A MANCHESTER UNITED FAN PERSPECTIVE
QPR Report Question and Answer sWith Jordan Street from the Manchester United Blog, Old Trafford Faithful Many thanks to Jordan for doing this Questions and Answers.
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
Q: How do you think the Norwich result will impact on you...Shatter your confidence (yeah right!) Or just make you even more determined/ensure no over confidence
We've suffered back to back losses now, which is never good at a club like United. However I fully expect the lads to be more determined to go out on Saturday and get the right result.
Q: Starting simply: How long have you supported Man Ut?
A: 14 years
How long have you been involved with your Website? How did you get to your site?
I've been involved with my site for 9 months now. Funnily enough my University lecturer gave me the idea to start up my own blog, and ever since then it has gone from strength to strength!
How do you get on with the other Man Ut sites: Are there any serious inter-board conflicts (as there certainly are - or certainly were - between certain QPR boards!)?
I get on with most other United blogs to be honest, I've never conflicted or had any problems with anyone. They are all good lads and are always willing to help out if I have a problem.
How do you feel about Man City? But is it Envy/Hatred/Disdain/Contempt or none of those?
How about other big rivals: in England or broader: Liverpool, Chelsea, Leeds, European, etc
It's a definite hatred towards City, it was a different rivalry up until Sheikh Mansour took over, but now they compete for the title it's much more of a fierce rivalry.
Are you happy with Man Utand how things are? - Can you explain/do you understand how things got to this point?
I'm fairly satisfied. Three league defeats at this stage of the season is a slight concern, but as we all know United get better as the season goes on so i'd expect us to push on and go on a nice unbeaten streak. If you look at our fixtures we certainly have the potential to go unbeaten till Christmas time (City away being an exception)
What do you think of the Glazers?
Where do you start with these lot? They are leaching our club from the inside and it's severely hampering us (especially in the transfer market) Many fans refuse to pay to watch United nowadays because of them. Sadly they'll be around for a long while yet.
How do you think Man Ut treats its fans? Appreciates them? Listens to them? Screws them?
It's a tough one really. We can't really argue as we've been hugely successful over the past twenty years. In some respects they screw us, especially with ticket prices for games such as Capital One Cup ties. They try to charge £40 for an adult ticket in that competition and then they wonder why Old Trafford is half empty. Sir Alex has always been good with the fans though, he never forgets that without us, there is no United.
Who are you Dangermen/Most valued/most overrated/most underrated players?
Our obvious danger men are Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, these guys could single-handedly fire us to the title if they remain fit all season. Javier Hernandez is also a massive threat coming off the bench, his movement is fantastic.
Our most underrated player is Michael Carrick, nobody ever gives him any credit. He does a great job in the middle of the park breaking up the play and starting off moves going forward.
Ashley Young is probably the most overrated player at United, why we even bothered buying him in the first place is still a mystery.
Who would you say was the greatest Man Ut player that you yourself personally saw? (You can name more than one if it's that close!)
Ronaldo all day long. He's a genius. His game has everything, he has pace, power, agility, and skill. He can finish with either foot or his head. Yes he moans an awful lot but when he's scoring almost every game you forgive him!
Prediction for season? And how would that compare with pre-season prediction? In your heart of hearts, what were you expecting pre-season for Man Ut? (Or do you every season Seriously Expect to win everything
We won't win everything, it'll be tough this year but I think we'll win the league.
What is your view and the general Man Ut view of QPR (If we even feature in your consciousness) or of Mark Hughes? Is he hero still?
Sparky will always be a hero as a player. Sadly he has ruined his reputation as a manager when he became City boss. He started off his managerial career really well at Blackburn, and he has gone downhill ever since.
Are you looking forward to playing QPR?
I guess so, with no disrespect to QPR we need to go out and make a statement. We need to keep a clean sheet and score a few goals, especially after losing at Norwich last weekend.
SCORE PREDICTION for Man Ut-QPR
3-0 United
Many thanks again to Jordan from the Manchester United Blog, Old Trafford Faithful
- League Managers Association (LMA) - Guardian: Howard Wilkinson's LMA survey reveals depth of managers' dedication 72% of the respondents admitted they were 'obsessed' by football while 59% admitted they struggled to lead a balanced lifestyle because of the pressures of the job
