QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has thrown down the gauntlet to his caretaker boss to keep Hoops in the Premier League.

If Chris Ramsey can keep Rs above the drop zone, all talk of ‘dream’ managers, Paul Clement and Michael Laudrup will be just so much hot air.

The chairman revealed he had wanted Ramsey in a senior coaching role sometime since, but got turned down by then boss Harry Redknapp.

Plan: Tony Fernandes

However, if the former academy coach can build on Rangers first away win of the season starting Saturday at Hull, then the new dream will be that things stay the way they are.

Fernandes did admit there was contact with Tim Sherwood, who has since taken up the reins at Aston Villa, this week. But he was left with the impression the former Tottenham manager might not be at Rs for the long haul.

“It would have been dumb not to have spoken to Tim, as well as some other guys,” Fernandes explained, “but we didn’t think it was right. I’m desperate for some longevity, and someone who will be here for a long time. It didn’t sit in the scheme of things.

“Michael Laudrup? I don’t know where that came from. Paul Clement, he has a QPR pedigree. His father was immense at QPR; he’s a coach at one of the best clubs in the world - but unproven. So is Chris. I kept pushing Chris as a coach, but Harry was comfortable with the team he had.

Chris Ramsey alongside Les Ferdinand

"Right now, my focus is on Chris and supporting him. He’s top of the list, and it’s his job for the taking. You know what’s football like: one minute you’re the greatest guy in the world, two weeks later you’re the worst.

“But whatever, Chris will have a long-term future at QPR.

"Fans were saying give him a chance. Players were texting me after Sunderland, but we had already made the decision on the Sunday before.”