Neil Warnock says his sacking by QPR last season took him by surprise.

Warnock said he had been caught by surprise when he was replaced, saying he had been trying to sign former Chelsea defender Alex before Mark Hughes' name appeared on the radar.

"I am trying to get Alex in from Chelsea with Kia (Joorabchian, the player agent who also represents Mark Hughes) and I have no doubt there were a lot of conversations going off at that time," he told 'Open All Rs'.

"And all of a sudden Mark's name is in the hat. That is what was disappointing to me.

"Tony was supportive but he was naive at that stage.

"Our remit was to get to the January window out of the bottom three and we did.

"To see some easier fixtures coming up and with players lined up to come in, it was difficult to relinquish that position."