Hughes leads QPR candidates

Former Manchester City and Fulham manager Mark Hughes has leaped into favouritism to nab the vacant role at Queens Park Rangers.

Hughes was overlooked for the last Premier League job that became available at Sunderland but history is unlikely to repeat itself after QPR became the second top tier club to dismiss their manager this season, when they relieved Neil Warnock of his duties on Sunday.

Goal.com understands that Hughes is the board’s overwhelming first choice to succeed Warnock after they acted upon their conviction that the 63-year-old was not the man to halt the slide towards relegation.

Gianfranco Zola, who has been out of work as a manager since being sacked by West Ham in May 2010, is also in the frame for the second London post of his coaching career.

However, it is believed to be Hughes’ job to lose should he convince the Premier League club during forthcoming negotiations that he is the safe pair of hands they need to steer them out of choppy waters.

The former Wales and Blackburn Rovers boss has not yet been officially contacted by QPR but is expected to hold talks with the west London club soon after his advisor Kia Joorabchian arrives back from Brazil, where he has been on family business, on Monday.

With QPR owner and chairman Tony Fernandes believed to have briefly returned to Malaysia after spending the weekend in London, a meeting with Hughes – the man who took Fulham to their second highest-ever Premier League finish last season before abruptly quitting – could be scheduled for Tuesday.

QPR chief executive Philip Beard said on Sunday that the club ‘plan to move very quickly’ and it is understood that an appointment will be made by the club before the end of this week.

Hughes’ availability, proven Premier League pedigree and experience of handling big names make him the outstanding candidate in the eyes of the board, who acted with ruthless speed after concluding that a run of six defeats and two draws in the Premier League could herald a return to the Championship.