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He's out: Neil Warnock sacked by Queens Park Rangers

The FA Cup draw with the MK Dons was the last resort as owner Tony Fernandes looks to halt slide down the Premier League table.

NEIL WARNOCK HAS been sacked as manager of Queens Park Rangers.

The former Crystal Palace manager had seen his side slip down towards the Premier League relegation places, having secured just two points from the last eight games, and could only secure a draw against the MK Dons in Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie.

A club statement said on qpr.co.uk: “Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today parted company with manager Neil Warnock.

“The board’s commitment to retaining our Premier League status ultimately led to this decision. QPR assistant manager Mick Jones and first-team coach Keith Curle have also left the club.”

Chairman Tony Fernandes, added: “This decision has been made in the best interests of the club and I can assure everyone that this is not a decision that was made lightly.

“Sadly, our recent run of poor form has seen us slip alarmingly down the table and the board felt it was the right time to make a change.

“Neil has acted with honesty, professionalism and integrity throughout his time at the club, and I would personally like to thank him for his significant contribution to QPR over the last 22 months.

“I genuinely wish him all the very best for the future and he will always be welcome back at Loftus Road.”

The 63-year-old Warnock insists he leaves Loftus Road with his head held high.

“Obviously I’m very disappointed, but having achieved so much, I leave the club with a great sense of pride,” he said.

“I have enjoyed my time here more than anywhere else and the QPR fans have been brilliant with me – they deserve success.

“My biggest regret is that the takeover didn’t happen earlier, because that would have given me the opportunity to bring in the targets I’d pinpointed all last summer and probably given us a better chance to succeed in the Premier League.

“The board at QPR are hugely ambitious and I wish them every success for the future.

“I’ve been involved in the game a long time and I will be spending the immediate future with my family and friends before deciding my next career move.”

QPR currently lie 17th in the Premier League table, just one point ahead of third-from-bottom Bolton Wanderers. Mark Hughes is the early bookies’ favourite to take on the job.

Liverpool to face Man United in FA Cup Fourth Round >

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