Parkes calls for 'new direction'

Former QPR goalkeeper Phil Parkes has called on club owner Tony Fernandes to "bite the bullet" and replace under-pressure manager Mark Hughes with Harry Redknapp.

The Hoops' 3-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Southampton yesterday left the London club rooted to the foot of the Barclays Premier League having still to record a victory. With their next two matches away at Hughes' former club Manchester United and Sunderland the situation

Parkes, who played at Loftus Road between 1970 and 1979, thinks a change of leadership gives the club the best chance of survival. He told Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "There is only one person who can make the decision and that is Tony Fernandes."

He added: "They have some tough games coming up and if he carries on backing Mark Hughes and they keep losing it is very difficult to get yourselves out of that position.

"Harry (Redknapp) is hovering in the background and he is a guy who will come in and make a difference straightaway.

"It is horrible when you see a manager in this position but I would think he would slowly be running out of time and I am not sure how long he can carry on in the job.

"You may have to bite the bullet and say it is time for Mark Hughes to move on.

"The longer he (Fernandes) leaves it the worse it will be for a new manager coming in and unfortunately that is what they need now, a new direction."