Warnock sacked over Yakubu bust-up
Published 22:29 08/01/12 By John Cross
Neil Warnock left QPR last night after a bust-up with owner Tony Fernandes over signing Blackburn striker Yakubu.
Rangers are confident of installing Mark Hughes as manager in the next 48 hours. The first job for the ex-Manchester City manager will be to rescue Rangers from relegation danger.
Warnock’s departure came just 24 hours after QPR narrowly avoided an FA Cup upset at MK Dons – but they have managed just two points from their last eight Premier League games.
Mirror Sport revealed last Wednesday that Warnock was back under pressure after their home defeat to Norwich, despite leading them into the Premier League just six months earlier.
The underlying problem centres around Fernandes not being convinced that Warnock could save QPR – and they also clashed over transfer targets.
Warnock wanted to make a bid for Blackburn striker Yakubu but Fernandes and the QPR hierarchy wanted bigger names.
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. Neil has acted with honesty, professionalism and integrity throughout his time at the club, and I would personally like to thank him for his significant contribution to QPR in the last 22 months.”
Warnock, who took charge at the club in March 2010, added: “Obviously I’m very disappointed, but having achieved so much, I leave the club with a great sense of pride.
“I have enjoyed my time here more than anywhere else and the QPR fans have been brilliant with me – they deserve success.
“My biggest regret is that the takeover didn’t happen earlier, because that would have given me the opportunity to bring in the targets I’d pinpointed all last summer and probably given us a better chance to succeed in the Premier League.”
QPR midfielder Alejandro Faurlin will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
