Tony Fernandes, the Queens Park Rangers owner, last night apologised to the club's fans following their 3-1 home defeat by Southampton.

The result left Rangers four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League table and provoked angry scenes at Loftus Road with supporters rounding on manager Mark Hughes and his players.

As well as "Hughes out", the crowd chanted "You're only here for the money" at the team, most of whom were signed this year on high wages. Fernandes has been resolute in his public support of Hughes in recent weeks but last night there was no mention of the Welshman in his regular post-match tweet.

"I feel gutted," he wrote. "I have put my heart and soul into this with my other shareholders. And done all we can to give support to players and all management. I can only apologise to QPR fans. We keep fighting."

Asked about suggestions he could walk away, Hughes said: "I don't run away from challenges. I knew it was going to be problematic when I took it on in January. I came into this situation with my eyes wide open and it's my intention to see it through. I can well understand the fans' reaction. It was exactly my reaction to that performance."