• Premier League

Hughes will have money to sign anyone - Fernandes

ESPN staff
January 11, 2012
QPR are looking to rebuild after some disappointing results © Getty Images
Enlarge

QPR owner Tony Fernandes has insisted there is no player the club are afraid to try and sign as they attempt to avoid Premier League relegation.

The west London club currently sit just a single point outside the drop zone, a state of affairs that led Fernandes to sack Neil Warnock as manager over the weekend. With Mark Hughes quickly installed as the new boss and the January transfer window open for activity, Fernandes has confirmed the club will try to be extremely busy in the market.

The tycoon revealed the club have already identified a few targets, but will back Hughes with money to spend if he has his own ideas.

"It is Mark's call but there's no name we are afraid to be linked to, provided it makes sense to the manager and to the club," Fernandes told Sky Sports News. "Mark is going to make sure he gets the right talent in at the right price.

"We have told Mark to come back to us with what he needs. We have some ideas, but he is the man in the hot seat.

"We will wait to see but hopefully something will be done before Newcastle. We have been badly hit with African Cup and Joey [Barton]'s suspension and Ali [Alejandro Faurlin, who is out for the season], which is a big, big blow.

"My target has remained the same, which is to avoid relegation and build from that."

Despite Hughes' rapid appointment Fernandes insisted other names were in the frame, but claimed a sit-down meeting with the former Manchester City boss convinced him and vice-chairman Amit Bhatia that he was the outstanding candidate for the post.

"There were a few [names] that were pushed our way, but when I met Mark, and Amit met Mark as well, we felt very good about it," he said. "There is a burning passion in Mark which is something I have always looked for in people and is something money can't buy.

"He is desperate to show what he is capable of and is looking for a club that can do more and have the same ambition."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices