Michael Laudrup will not be installed as the next manager of Queens Park Rangers, after ruling himself out of the running for the job.
The Loftus Road club are in the market for a new boss following Harry Redknapp’s surprise resignation last week, when he revealed he had been forced to make the decision so he could undergo surgery on his knees. Tim Sherwood was immediately made the bookies favourite to take charge of the club, but talks broke down earlier this week.
On Tuesday, chairman Tony Fernandes tweeted that he was on the verge of appointing his ‘dream manager’, and it was widely reported that Laudrup was the subject of his attention. However, the former Swansea City boss, who has also been linked with the Japan national side, insisted he will remain in Qatar where he is currently impressing with Lekhwiya.
“It is always positive to be linked with big jobs and taking over one of the biggest teams in Asia [Japan] or QPR are big jobs,” he told Jyllands-Posten. “But, having said that, I would also like to say that I have no intention to leave Lekhwiya at the moment. We are top of the league and are starting the group phase of the Champions League in two weeks.”
It is beginning to look increasingly likely that current first team coach Chris Ramsey will remain in caretaker charge of the club for the remainder of the season. And his position has been strengthened in the best possible way, following the 2-0 win at Sunderland which marked Rangers’ first away win of the season and lifted them out of the relegation zone.
After the success at the Stadium of Light, Sky Sports asked Ramsey if he felt this victory proved he deserved the job on a permanent basis, to which he replied: “I thought I deserved it before this! If the job is available and I’m the right man for the job then I’ll do it. If not, I’ll stay as an employee – head of player development – and continue to support the cause.”
