QPR deny Hughes rumours

QPR has described as "inaccurate", reports that manager Mark Hughes was asked to resign and refused to last night.

The under-fire manager took training at QPR today as speculation over his future at Loftus Road continues.

The Hoops are bottom of the Barclays Premier League after a winless start to the campaign that stretched to 12 matches with Saturday’s embarrassing 3-1 home defeat to fellow strugglers Southampton.

It was a result that has seen Hughes’ position at the QPR helm come under increasing scrutiny and rumours abounded yesterday that his 10-month reign at the west London club had come to an end.

QPR were quick to deny such talk last night and retained that stance today, insisting it was “business as usual” and that Hughes had took training.

Despite QPR confirming the Welshman remains in charge, odds have continued to shorten on him becoming the first Premier League manager to leave his post and one bookmaker has him as low as 1/10.

Sven-Goran Eriksson and Rafa Benitez have been mentioned as potential replacements, although Harry Redknapp is over-riding favourite to replace the Welshman.

The 65-year-old has been out of work since leaving Tottenham in the summer and has not hid his desire to return to management.

Should QPR part company with Hughes, they could face a battle for Redknapp’s signature from an unlikely source as the Football Federation of Ukraine revealed in a statement this afternoon they would like him to succeed Oleg Blokhin as national team manager.