QPR may be bottom of the Barclays Premier League, but boss Mark Hughes insists life at Loftus Road is like a walk in the park compared to the turmoil he had to endure throughout his tumultuous reign at Manchester City.
Despite a public vote of confidence from Rangers owner Tony Fernandes, Hughes’ position has come under scrutiny in recent weeks due to the club’s woeful start to the season.
The Welshman signed 11 first-team players this summer – some of them from glamour clubs like Inter Milan and Real Madrid – but with nine games gone QPR are bottom of the league after picking up just three points.
Hughes cut a calm figure when dealing with claims his position is in doubt today, perhaps because he became so used to batting away similar questions during his time at Manchester City.
Rumours that City’s new owners wanted a more world-renowned man in charge of their expensively-assembled side gathered momentum soon after Sheikh Mansour’s takeover, and they were ultimately proven to be true when Hughes was sacked just over a year later to be replaced by Roberto Mancini.
“I had (speculation regarding my future) for about 18 months (at City). We have had a couple of weeks of it here so it really doesn’t phase me to be honest,” Hughes told a press conference.
“The difference here is that I have a great relationship with the owner and his shareholders and everyone connected with the club.
“There are good lines of communication and if there are any concerns, we can allay them very quickly because of the relationship we have.”
Fernandes has pumped tens of millions of pounds in to QPR since he bought the club 15 months ago.
Hughes met the Malaysian businessman when he visited the club’s training ground this week, although the Welshman insists his future was not discussed.
He insists he retains Fernandes’ full support, however, so much so that he even thinks defeat at home on Sunday to Reading, who are also without a win so far this year, would not signal the end of his time at Loftus Road.
Hughes said: “How many times can Tony talk about being fully behind what we are trying to do? One game isn’t going to change that.
“He doesn’t say one thing to (the media) and another to me. That would be absolutely crazy.
“He is an honest guy and he is very open.
“We haven’t discussed (my future). He is very supportive.
“He was very upbeat when I was with him. He is in great spirits.”
