Pressure cranks up on Hughes

If Mark Hughes was under the impression he had dropped in lucky in a reality-game of Championship Manager with free reign in the transfer market, then he better think again as QPR chief executive Phillip Beard bought Hughes back down to Earth with an almighty bump.

Hughes has been given a luxurious budget this summer to bolster his QPR squad that narrowly avoided relegation last season, but Beard (no he doesn't have one) has warned that a similar hare'em scare'em season will not be tolerated this time round.

The Welshman was like a kiddie in a sweet-shop this summer as he was afforded enough money to buy an entire new team, but his lack of freedom will end there according to Beard. It's time to get down with the job at hand.

Speaking to London24, Beard said that the Loftus Road hierarchy, most notably the mega-rich Tony Fernandes, believed they had spent too much on renovating the squad to be involved in another relegation battle so Hughes, with his team currently lying in 19th place on just one point, will feel the heat crank up just a notch by Beard's recent comments.

However, despite throwing millions of pounds on many short-term options the wrong side of 30, Beard was quick to defend the old folk's home transfer policy by saying it has ensured the squad has the correct balance.

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