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Hughes predicts bright future for QPR as Welshman is named new manager at Loftus Road
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:02 PM on 10th January 2012
Mark Hughes has vowed to revive QPR after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract to take charge at Loftus Road.
The former Fulham manager has been appointed after Neil Warnock was sacked on Sunday evening.
Hughes, who will take charge of first-team training on Tuesday afternoon before being formally unveiled on Wednesday, said: 'It's a great feeling to be back in football and to be the manager of QPR.
Fresh start: New QPR boss Mark Hughes is raring to go
'Nobody can doubt the history of this great football club and the passion of its fantastically loyal supporters.
'Now the immediate priority is to consolidate our place in the Barclays Premier League, but beyond that, the future is very bright and fills me with great enthusiasm.'
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes moved quickly to give his new man plenty of time to bring in reinforcements for the Premier League survival bid.
Only way is up: Tony Fernandes will be hoping Hughes can make a flying start
Welcome: Mark Hughes arrives at QPR to seal his big move
With a £20million transfer kitty to play with, Blackburn defender Chris Samba is Hughes' top target.
Hughes was responsible for bringing Samba to England, signing the Congo centre half when he was Rovers boss in 2007.
Sportsmail exclusively revealed on Boxing Day that Samba was on Warnock’s hitlist and QPR’s £5m offer was rejected last week. They face competition from Tottenham.
Wanted: Blackburn defender Chris Samba is Hughes' No 1 target this month
With injury concerns over both Ledley King and William Gallas, Spurs have put central defender Samba at the top of their list. Harry Redknapp is aware of Hughes’ interest and the White Hart Lane manager will table a £7m bid in a bid to get his man.
Samba is keen to leave Ewood Park and a move to Champions League-chasing Spurs would be favourable to the 27-year-old.
But Hughes hopes his relationship with the player will change his mind.
He will also press ahead with the club’s plan to sign Manchester City misift Wayne Bridge — a player he bought as City boss from Chelsea. Another defender, Chelsea’s Alex, is set to join Rangers in a £3m move.
Wielding the axe: Tony Fernandes (right) moved swiftly to sack Neil Warnock, who took the Hoops to the Premier League
Fulham striker Andy Johnson is also being considered by the ex-Craven Cottage boss. QPR’s £1.5m bid was rejected last week, but Johnson is determined to move.
Chelsea’s superstar striker Didier Drogba has also been mentioned. The 33-year-old has only six months left on his Chelsea contract and Fernandes has indicated that he is willing to stretch the budget by perhaps another £5m for a marquee name.
Such deals, and Malaysian businessman Fernandes’ global vision for the club, is understood to have been vital in persuading Hughes that QPR is the right move.
Key to that vision is Fernandes’ interest in the Dairy Crest site in White City, as QPR look to relocate to a new stadium.
Target: City outcast Wayne Bridge (right) - who commands a £90,000-per-week wage - spent the latter half of last season on loan at West Ham
Fernandes, said: 'Mark has a proven track record in the Premier League, bringing a wealth of experience at both club and international level.
'He has a great passion to achieve as a manager and has already been hugely successful in his career. His ambitions match those of the board and we are delighted to have him at the helm.'
QPR vice Chairman, Amit Bhatia, added: 'Mark has a great managerial pedigree and has proven over the years to be a very astute Manager.
'I am looking forward to working with him to bring success to the club.'
Chief executive Philip Beard said: 'Having spoken at length with Mark, I know he is brimming with enthusiasm and anticipation about the challenge of taking QPR forward and I believe he is the perfect choice to deliver the success we all desire.'
Lofty ambtions: Fernandes would love to bring Drogba to Loftus Road as a marquee signing
Hughes, who had been linked with both Aston Villa and Sunderland since leaving Fulham, will be joined at QPR by assistant manager Mark Bowen, first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki and goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock.
Hughes quit the Cottagers at the end of last season after less than a year in charge, suggesting the club's ambitions did not match his own.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1j4lExKGI
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:02 PM on 10th January 2012
Mark Hughes has vowed to revive QPR after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract to take charge at Loftus Road.
The former Fulham manager has been appointed after Neil Warnock was sacked on Sunday evening.
Hughes, who will take charge of first-team training on Tuesday afternoon before being formally unveiled on Wednesday, said: 'It's a great feeling to be back in football and to be the manager of QPR.
Fresh start: New QPR boss Mark Hughes is raring to go 'Nobody can doubt the history of this great football club and the passion of its fantastically loyal supporters.
'Now the immediate priority is to consolidate our place in the Barclays Premier League, but beyond that, the future is very bright and fills me with great enthusiasm.'
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes moved quickly to give his new man plenty of time to bring in reinforcements for the Premier League survival bid.
Only way is up: Tony Fernandes will be hoping Hughes can make a flying start Welcome: Mark Hughes arrives at QPR to seal his big moveWith a £20million transfer kitty to play with, Blackburn defender Chris Samba is Hughes' top target.
Hughes was responsible for bringing Samba to England, signing the Congo centre half when he was Rovers boss in 2007.
Sportsmail exclusively revealed on Boxing Day that Samba was on Warnock’s hitlist and QPR’s £5m offer was rejected last week. They face competition from Tottenham.
Wanted: Blackburn defender Chris Samba is Hughes' No 1 target this monthWith injury concerns over both Ledley King and William Gallas, Spurs have put central defender Samba at the top of their list. Harry Redknapp is aware of Hughes’ interest and the White Hart Lane manager will table a £7m bid in a bid to get his man.
Samba is keen to leave Ewood Park and a move to Champions League-chasing Spurs would be favourable to the 27-year-old.
But Hughes hopes his relationship with the player will change his mind.
He will also press ahead with the club’s plan to sign Manchester City misift Wayne Bridge — a player he bought as City boss from Chelsea. Another defender, Chelsea’s Alex, is set to join Rangers in a £3m move.
Wielding the axe: Tony Fernandes (right) moved swiftly to sack Neil Warnock, who took the Hoops to the Premier LeagueFulham striker Andy Johnson is also being considered by the ex-Craven Cottage boss. QPR’s £1.5m bid was rejected last week, but Johnson is determined to move.
Chelsea’s superstar striker Didier Drogba has also been mentioned. The 33-year-old has only six months left on his Chelsea contract and Fernandes has indicated that he is willing to stretch the budget by perhaps another £5m for a marquee name.
Such deals, and Malaysian businessman Fernandes’ global vision for the club, is understood to have been vital in persuading Hughes that QPR is the right move.
Key to that vision is Fernandes’ interest in the Dairy Crest site in White City, as QPR look to relocate to a new stadium.
Target: City outcast Wayne Bridge (right) - who commands a £90,000-per-week wage - spent the latter half of last season on loan at West HamFernandes, said: 'Mark has a proven track record in the Premier League, bringing a wealth of experience at both club and international level.
'He has a great passion to achieve as a manager and has already been hugely successful in his career. His ambitions match those of the board and we are delighted to have him at the helm.'
QPR vice Chairman, Amit Bhatia, added: 'Mark has a great managerial pedigree and has proven over the years to be a very astute Manager.
'I am looking forward to working with him to bring success to the club.'
Chief executive Philip Beard said: 'Having spoken at length with Mark, I know he is brimming with enthusiasm and anticipation about the challenge of taking QPR forward and I believe he is the perfect choice to deliver the success we all desire.'
Lofty ambtions: Fernandes would love to bring Drogba to Loftus Road as a marquee signingHughes, who had been linked with both Aston Villa and Sunderland since leaving Fulham, will be joined at QPR by assistant manager Mark Bowen, first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki and goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock.
Hughes quit the Cottagers at the end of last season after less than a year in charge, suggesting the club's ambitions did not match his own.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1j4lExKGI