By SAMI MOKBEL
Last updated at 10:00 PM on 8th January 2012
Mark Hughes will be installed as Queens Park Rangers manager this week after Neil Warnock was sacked on Sunday night.
Club supremo Tony Fernandes axed Warnock after agreeing a compensation package with the 63-year-old and his assistants Keith Curle and Mick Jones to end their 22-month stay at Loftus Road.
Owners Fernandes and Amit Bhatia have already reached a deal with Hughes to take over at the Barclays Premier League club, who lie a point above the relegation zone. The former Manchester United striker will be joined by his right-hand men Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki.
Fernandes is currently out of the country but will return to England before the end of the week to formalise Hughesâs appointment.
The Malaysian businessman views the Welshman as the perfect candidate to steady the ship. Despite his sacking as Manchester City manager in 2010, Hughes impressed Fernandes with his accomplishments in difficult circumstances. But it is his record with Blackburn, under financial constraints, that stands out for Fernandes.
Given his status as an Old Trafford legend, Hughes also fits the bill for Fernandesâ global marketing vision for the west London club.
Fernandes said: 'This decision has been made in the best interests of the club and I can assure everyone that this is not a decision that was made lightly. Sadly, our recent run of poor form has seen us slip alarmingly down the table and the board felt it was the right time to make a change.
Warnockâs side had picked up five points from a possible 33 and Sportsmail understands key members of the QPR board were due to meet on
Thursday to discuss his position. But the clubâs 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round against MK Dons on Saturday forced Fernandes to make a quick decision.
He is said to be âdeeply disappointedâ by QPRâs league position, particularly given the amount of money spent by Warnock in the summer to bring in the likes of Joey Barton, Anton Ferdinand, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Luke Young.
Furthermore, Fernandes has been unconvinced by a number of Warnockâs signings, feeling money could have been spent better elsewhere. The former Sheffield United boss was to be given between £15m-£20m to spend this month but Sportsmail revealed last week how Fernandes was having second thoughts on handing over the funds.
Instead, the businessman was keen for Warnock to explore the loan market for suitable signings and the only player they have brought in is Manchester United striker Federico Macheda.
Fernandes has taken a more prominent role in the recruitment of players this month and has been at the forefront of attempts to sign Manchester City misfit Wayne Bridge and Chelsea defender Alex.
The apparent breakdown in trust between the two men has now cost the former Crystal Palace boss his job. Talk of Hughesâs possible appointment was openly discussed by members of the playing staff, as was Fernandesâ apparent reluctance to hand over transfer funds to Warnock.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2083912/Mark-Hughes-replace-Neil-Warnock-QPR-boss.html#ixzz1iuMeX81N