QPR chairman Tony Fernandes gives Mark Hughes his backing... again

 

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has once again insisted that he will not be firing Mark Hughes, despite a dreadful start to the season in which the R's are yet to register a win.

The latest show of faith follows the 1-1 draw with Reading, the only other team without a win in the league this season.

"I have complete faith in Mark Hughes and we have a great squad, we just need to hold out for that stability and I'm sure things are going to go right," Fernandes said today.

"It's been one of those frustrating seasons for us but I'm keeping the faith and keeping calm. It's not a time to panic."

Hughes would have been desperate for a win at Loftus Road this weekend in what was probably QPR's best chance so far this season to claim three points.

Instead, it needed a second-half equaliser from Djibril Cisse to ensure it wasn't Reading that ended their Premier League duck. Yet Fernandes feels it would be "suicidal" to change manager now.

"I'm not sure what language I have to say it in, I don't how else I can do it but I am 100 per cent committed," he said.

"We won't be detracted by fans or media, we're confident in our approach and changing our manager now would be suicidal.

"Mark's a good guy, he's got good records before him, he needs a bit of luck but cream always rises to the top. He has our backing."

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Fernandes does not want to replace his manager and watch Hughes' work to-date go to waste.

"We made a change with Neil and it's not in my nature to do that but we felt that we had to make that change going forward," he said.

"I think the fans who are true fans know that stability is needed. QPR doesn't need another four-year plan of chopping and changing every few weeks.

"Mark has done it before, he's brought teams up from the bottom to the mid-table, we just need a bit of luck and I'm sure things will turn around."

QPR invested heavily in players over the summer leading to lofty expectations at the start of the season. Yet Hughes, who left Fulham because they weren't ambitious enough for him, has only been able to lead QPR to 19th in the table after 10 games - five points from safety.

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