QPR chair Tony Fernandes chuckled when asked about the threat of losing the club's training ground at Harlington to Heathrow expansion plans.

The site Rangers have called their working home since 2007 is slap, bang in the middle of plans to add a third runway after Sir Howard Davies’ Airport Commission strongly backed the idea yesterday - and immediately split the government cabinet.

Chances are a revamped bid to relocate to Warren Farm in Osterley will nullify all argument over Harlington with a decision expected this summer from Ealing Council.

But even if these altered plans are rejected, the Air Asia tycoon, 51, insists a third runway won’t happen in his lifetime.

He said: “Believe me, I’ve been in the airline business a long time, and even getting new proposals over scheduling requires herculean efforts.

“A new runway? It won’t happen in my lifetime.”