Queens Park Rangers have hired Harry Redknapp as manager in a bid to keep the London team in the English Premier League.

The Englishman, who was fired by Tottenham in June, has signed a 2 1/2-year contract to replace Mark Hughes.

QPR sit bottom of the Premier League with just four points and without a win after 12 matches.

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes says Redknapp “has a proven track record in the Premier League and has all the characteristics we were looking for to get us out of the current situation.”

Redknapp added that “there’s a lot of ability in the squad, but for one reason or another things haven’t gone as well as everyone expected.”

Redknapp will be in the stands at Manchester United on Saturday for QPR’s match with assistant manager Mark Bowen and first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki in charge of the team.

Hughes is the second Premier League manager to lose his job this season, after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked by Chelsea last Wednesday.