Queens Park Rangers

Who will replace Mark Hughes at Queens Park Rangers?

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 23 November 2012

Sports Mole looks at the most likely candidates to fill the vacant manager's post at Queens Park Rangers following Mark Hughes's sacking this morning.

Queens Park Rangers have begun the search for a new manager after Mark Hughes was dismissed from his post this morning.

QPR currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League table, having failed to win any of their opening 12 games despite a substantial summer spending spree.

This run of results has forced chairman Tony Fernandes to pull the plug on Hughes's career at the club after just 10 months in charge.

Here, Sports Mole looks at some potential candidates to fill the role at Loftus Road.

Harry Redknapp
The overwhelming favourite for the job, Harry Redknapp has been out of football since his departure from Tottenham Hotspur this summer. Redknapp has been linked with the post at QPR since it became clear that they were underperforming, and could be seen as the ideal man to help the club avoid relegation, having done the same with West Ham United and Portsmouth. However, the 65-year-old has been linked with a move to Ukraine to take over as the national team boss, so Rangers may have to move quickly to get their man.

Roberto Di Matteo
Roberto Di Matteo may still be coming to terms with no longer being Chelsea manager, but QPR could provide a quick route back into football for the 42-year-old. Despite being a Champions League-winning manager, Di Matteo may struggle to find another job with a club the size of Chelsea, so QPR could give him an opportunity to work his way up from the bottom again. He has already done this with MK Dons and West Bromwich Albion, so could be tempted by the challenge that QPR poses.

Sven Goran Eriksson
The QPR owners have a penchant for big names, as their summer spending spree shows, and Sven Goran Eriksson would certainly fill that criteria. The former England boss would certainly bring a wealth of experience to the role, but his lack of success in English football could count against him. The 64-year-old has managed Manchester City and Leicester City, but in both cases lasted barely a year before being dismissed.

Alan Curbishley
Alan Curbishley is a name perpetually linked with a vacant manager's job, but the former Charlton and West Ham boss has been out of work since leaving the Hammers in acrimonious circumstances in 2008. However, the 55-year-old has experienced plenty of relegation battles in his career, and with QPR looking set for another this season, this could act in Curbishley's favour.

Paolo Di Canio
Queens Park Rangers are an eccentric club and Paolo Di Canio is an eccentric manager. The Italian has been hugely impressive at Swindon Town since taking over in 2011, winning plaudits for his style of football on his way to claiming the League Two title. He has continued this form on to League One, where his side currently sit in the playoff places. Di Canio is known to have a no-nonsense approach with his players, which could help sort out the underperforming big names in the QPR dressing room. It would, however, be a risk considering Di Canio's lack of experience at this level.