QPR boss Hughes could prove value punt as next manager to go

QPR haven’t enjoyed the best of starts this season, and things could worsen quickly, with a torrid run of fixtures to come in September.

As such, manager Mark Hughes looks a tempting prospect to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post, as 7/2 third-favourite to do so.

Hughes has overseen a summer of transition at Loftus Road, with eight new signings joining the club, many of which have been tied to very lucrative contracts.

That investment has led to lofty expectations from club owner Tony Fernandes, who was somewhat ruthless in his dismissal of previous Rs boss Neil Warnock less than a year ago.

And the Malaysian tycoon will not have been impressed by the Hoops’ crushing 5-0 opening-day defeat at home to Swansea, and a subsequent stalemate at Norwich.

Those two results have meant that Hughes will enter September in search of a maiden Premier League win this season, and with some daunting fixtures to face.

First is a trip to Premier League champions Manchester City, who haven’t lost a match at the Etihad Stadium in over a year.

European champions Chelsea then visit Loftus Road, aiming to maintain a 100 per cent win record so far and maintain their place at the pinnacle of the Premier League.

And the Rs will travel to Tottenham to round off an incredibly tough set of fixtures, in the hope of claiming their first win at White Hart Lane since 1994.

Should QPR fail to triumph in any of these games, all of which they will enter as underdogs, they will be without a win in their opening five league matches.

With such droughts of success now deemed long enough by many a top-flight chairman to justify pressing the panic button, Hughes could find himself under pressure sooner rather than later.

Amongst other candidates to exit is West Ham boss Sam Allardyce, who is 7/4 favourite to be the next Premier League boss out of work.

However, his vast experience at the top level, along with favourable approaching fixtures, seem to make his position at the front of the betting a strange one.

Nigel Adkins is thought to be the other manager who could soon come under scrutiny, with Ladbrokes offering a 3/1 price regarding his Southampton exit.

Consecutive promotions with the club would appear to buy Adkins more time than most though, and so it may be wiser to avoid the young coach in this market.

Most vulnerable seems to be Hughes, and his 7/2 price could soon shorten in the aftermath of upcoming QPR matches.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.