Out-of-work manager Neil Warnock has blasted Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes’ decision to sack him yesterday, defiantly declaring: “I wasn’t that sh*t.”

Mark Hughes was today installed as Warnock’s successor in the Loftus Road hot seat as Fernandes sought to take a leaf out of West Bromwich Albion’s book, the Baggies having relieved Roberto Di Matteo of his duties at a similar stage last season in a move which attracted criticism at the time but ultimately paid dividends when Roy ‘Psycho’ Hodgson steered them comfortably to mid-table obscurity.

Despite a run of six defeats from eight games, Warnock, who looks like he should be wearing a bowtie and cracking jokes about “the mother-in-law”, is outraged that he should be shown the door while his side are sitting prettily in 17th, a full point clear of Bolton Wanderers.

He said: “When the new owners arrived, they told me my remit was to get to the new year with QPR outside the bottom three.

“We’ve not been in the bottom three all season, so it is an understatement to say that I am very disappointed. And, with seasoned Premier League players like Joey Barton and Sean Wright-Phillips in our squad, we had every chance of competing with the Swanseas and Norwiches of this world.

“While I accept the owner’s decision, I don’t [accept the owner’s decision]. If he’d brought in all the expensive players I listed in a telegram not three days ago, we could have been looking up at 16th, perhaps even 15th, and once you’re up there it’s all to play for.

“But no doubt the chairman has had a string of agents in touch telling them their man could do a better job. Well, balls to ‘em.”

He added: “Now, I’m not saying the mother-in-law’s fat, but…”