Two managers gone, no promotion, disaffected fans and a disappointing position in the Championship: welcome to the first year of Flavio Briatore's four-year plan to drag Queens Park Rangers into the Premier League.

Next Thursday marks the first anniversary of Briatore's formal takeover at Loftus Road and the optimism surrounding a club that last played in the top flight 12 years ago now seems all but a distant memory.

While there were mitigating circumstances surrounding the departure of Luigi De Canio in May the Italian was homesick and had struggled to learn English the end of Iain Dowie's tenure after just 15 games is the culmination of constant rumours and unrest behind the scenes.

It is understood Briatore had become infuriated with Dowie for not selecting the players the 58-year-old used his sizeable influence to sign.

Most notably, Samuel Di Carmine, on loan from Fiorentina, had started just one game until being restored to the line-up under caretaker boss Gareth Ainsworth for Saturday's 0-0 draw at Reading where Dexter Blackstock, the club's leading scorer this season with six goals, was dropped to make way for Di Carmine.

Ainsworth's admission that Briatore "loves taking an active part in how his investment is going" is an ominous indication of the influence the chairman and co-owner is looking to wield.

Sources close to both Briatore and vice-chairman Amit Bhatia have hinted at clashes between the pair over the management of the club. When asked to explain these rumours and clarify Dowie's exit, the club, Bhatia and Briatore declined to comment.

Their silence has left fans feeling frustrated, especially in light of the ticket price hikes that were later softened by Bhatia, presumably in a bid to win fans' support.

Neil Jackson, spokesman for QPR 1st Supporters Trust, said: "Dowie was sacked after 15 games so if it was a performance issue, I can't make sense of it. It is clear Flavio Briatore is having a very strong input. Does Flavio have the football knowledge to pick the team? I don't know. Some of the purchases have not worked out and that is concerning."

Of course Briatore wants Rangers to be a success and it must be remembered his £14million bailed out the club but the new branding and the celebrity 'It' crowd would appear to hint at a desire for a west London plaything.

By contrast, Bhatia, the son-in-law of co-owner Lakshmi Mittal, is painting himself as a football man hence it was he who announced the U-turn on certain ticket prices. Bhatia is also said to have been reluctant to fire Dowie (right). The players also appear confused.

Defender Peter Ramage said: "It's a strange situation. I have never encountered an owner who is so hands on but if we win our next eight games, people will say he is a genius.

"It's good that he takes an interest because it shows he cares. The power struggle or whatever is going on is no concern of the players we are paid to play and that's what we'll do."

Standard Sport understands Ainsworth will not be given the job on a permanent basis and that Briatore would prefer to appoint an Italian with Roberto Mancini, Roberto Donadoni and Gianluca Vialli under consideration.

Failing that, leading English contenders include Terry Venables and Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson.

Any manager will need to work within the Briatore framework, which appears to be that the co-owner will influence both transfer policy and team selection.

A long shot who would fit that bill is Damiano Tommasi, the 34-year-old former Italy international, who signed for Rangers thanks to Briatore as a player but has struggled with injury.

But as Tottenham fans could testify, until there is a united boardroom with a single vision and a manager in place who is given time, QPR remain very much a work in progress. And despite Briatore's business and sporting acumen there's no guarantee the second year of his four-year plan will see any more success than the first.