Paul Hart has stood down as manager of London Championship side Queens Park Rangers after just five games in charge, the club announced on Friday.

He is the sixth boss to have held the post at Loftus Road in the two and a half years that former Renault Formula One chief Flavio Briatore has been the club owner.

The 56-year-old, who was sacked by Premier League side Portsmouth late last year, had been expected to stay in the job until the end of the season but now leaves the club after less than a month.

Some reports suggested the decision came after Hart fell out with the Rangers board over transfers, while an argument with on-loan midfielder Adel Taarabt has also been reported.

It is thought assistant manager Mick Harford will take charge until the end of the campaign.

A QPR statement read: "The club can confirm that manager Paul Hart has decided to leave Queens Park Rangers Football Club with immediate effect.

"Assistant manager Mick Harford will be taking charge of first-team affairs, starting with this weekend's Championship fixture at Blackpool."

Hart's final game in charge was Tuesday night's 3-2 Cup defeat by Sheffield United, watched by Briatore and fellow co-owner Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone.

A crowd of only 5,780 watched Rangers fall 3-0 behind and booed Hart when he brought off midfielder Alejandro Faurlin, to replace him with Taarabt.

The Hoops are currently 10th in the Championship ahead of the trip to Blackpool, who are managed by their former boss Ian Holloway.

Under Briatore, permanent managers John Gregory, Luigi De Canio, Iain Dowie, Paulo Sousa, Jim Magilton and Hart have departed while Harford, Gareth Ainsworth (twice) and youth coaches Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham have had spells in caretaker charge.

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