Hughes sacked as QPR boss

London - Mark Hughes was dismissed as head coach of Queens Park Rangers on Friday, with the club bottom of the Premier League table after failing to win any of their first 12 matches of the season.

"Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today (Friday) terminated the contract of manager Mark Hughes with immediate effect," the club announced on their official Twitter page.

QPR, who avoided relegation on the final day of last season, are the only club in the English league system yet to have won a game.

Hughes had received backing from the club's Malaysian owner, Tony Fernandes, in recent weeks, but last weekend's 3-1 loss at home to fellow strugglers Southampton left them five points adrift of safety.

"This decision has been taken after careful consideration by the Board of Directors, following numerous meetings over the last few days," read a statement on the QPR website.

"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."

The London side then cancelled a media conference that had been scheduled to take place on Friday afternoon.

Hughes is the second Premier League manager to lose his job this season, after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked by Chelsea on Wednesday.

The 49-year-old Welshman had only been in the role since January, but found himself the subject of sustained media scrutiny as he struggled to turn QPR's season around.

Hughes signed several new players in the summer but the team have under-performed badly and the former Fulham manager was the target of anger from fans during the loss against Southampton.

Harry Redknapp, who left Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season, was quickly installed as the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Hughes, despite being linked to the vacant managerial position with the Ukrainian national team.