Under-fire boss Mark Hughes arrived at QPR’s training ground on Tuesday morning with the club insisting it was ‘business as usual’ despite speculation over his future.
Hughes did not take the previous day’s session at Harlington, where chief executive Philip Beard spent much of the day.
That is not unusual – Beard is there regularly and Monday’s training is usually a warm-down session which Hughes does not attend – but it prompted reports of a lengthy meeting between the pair and suggestions the manager was being fired.
Hughes has made it clear he will not resign and believes he will be given more time by the club’s owners, while his agent Kia Koorabchian last night also denied rumours the Welshman had been dismissed.
Rangers’ board are due to hold talks in the next 48 hours, when Hughes’ future should become clearer.
Tony Fernandes, a friend of Hughes and the man who brought him to Loftus Road 11 months ago, is keen for him to stay.
But the chairman must convince other major shareholders the former Manchester United forward should remain in the job – at least for the time being.
Disgruntled fans want Hughes out, with Harry Redknapp touted as a replacement.
Redknapp, a friend of ex-QPR chairman Gianni Paladini, has been out of management since leaving Tottenham in June and is keen to return to the Premier League.
Hughes, whose team are bottom of the table and without a league win this season, has indicated there will be significant changes if he remains at the club.
Previously placid towards his under-performing players, he read the riot act in the dressing room following Saturday’s humiliating 3-1 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Southampton.
There is support for him among players despite misgivings about some of his signings.
Stalwarts like Jamie Mackie and Shaun Derry are likely to be asked to play an important role in the coming weeks should Hughes cling on.
The return of Stephane Mbia is also seen as important as it would enable Hughes to permanently replace Anton Ferdinand at the heart of his leaky defence – something he has been looking to do for some time.
Ferdinand was increasingly out of favour prior to Mbia’s three-match suspension for a red card in the recent defeat at Arsenal.
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This post was last modified on 21/11/2012