Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes has two months in which to turn the club’s results around and save his job at Loftus Road.

Chairman Tony Fernandes is determined to give Hughes, whom he installed as manager in January after sacking Neil Warnock, as much time as possible to get the season back on track.

Fernandes has been steadfast in his support but even his patience will not last should Rangers continue to struggle.

QPR, who only survived relegation on the final day of last season, had hoped to be challenging in the top half of the table after signing 12 new players in the summer. But they sit at the bottom of the Premier League having picked up two points from their seven matches.

Their form has been disappointing and, remarkably, Hughes has yet to lead his side to a win away from Loftus Road since taking over.

Hughes said today: “We have to make sure that nobody is in any doubt about what is required from them. We are not happy with the situation we find ourselves in because we believe we are a better side than that.”

Rangers face a couple of tough matches after the international break, against Everton and Arsenal, and there is a trip to Manchester United coming up next month. However, there are also key pre‑Christmas games against potential relegation rivals Reading, Southampton, Aston Villa, Wigan and Fulham, as well as winnable games against Stoke and Sunderland.

They are only six points behind Swansea in mid‑table so QPR do not see the need to panic just yet but are wary of the gap growing wider.

This is why the games leading up to the festive period are set to be key to the manager’s future, especially as ex-Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp continues to be linked with the post.

There has been a lot of speculation that there are rifts in the camp, particularly between the new signings and the squad members of last season as they have reportedly been signed on much higher salaries.

Defender Clint Hill denied there are any problems but admitted the players are starting to feel the strain.

He said: “People are always going to point the finger and upset us even more but we’re tight.

“We don’t want to be at the bottom of the League, no one does. As soon as we start picking up results that will lift the mood. Of course, the pressure is building. Our aim at the start of the season was to be in the top half.”