Tim Sherwood is widely expected to become the new manager of Queens Park Rangers, following Harry Redknapp’s resignation on Monday.
Redknapp was unable to keep the Hoops in the Premier League when he replaced Mark Hughes in November 2012, but he led them back into the top-flight via the playoffs last term. The aim this time round was to simply endure a comfortable campaign, but it has been anything but with the Loftus Road side second-bottom in the table and a point from safety.
Less than 24 hours after the winter transfer window closed – a period in which Rangers signed only Mauro Zarate on loan and Ryan Manning – Redknapp revealed his decision to resign from his post, citing a need to operate on his knees as the reason. This also gave the club the opportunity to make some more changes, with both Glenn Hoddle and Joe Jordan also leaving their coaching roles.
First team responsibility will be handed over to Kevin Bond and Chris Ramsey with immediate effect, whilst a permanent appointment is sought. And on Wednesday it was confirmed that Les Ferdinand will relinquish his coaching position to take up the role of Director of Football, something which chairman Tony Fernandes will see the club heading in the right direction long-term.
“This is a new strategy for us,” he told the official club website. “Our recruitment policy is changing. I’ve had many messages from supporters, of all ages, who aren’t – for one reason or another – satisfied with what’s going on at QPR at the moment, but I can reassure all Rangers fans that we are putting the building blocks in place to move things in the right direction for the future.
“We’ve made a number of mistakes in the transfer market over the last few years and it’s something we want to change. We don’t want to be a buying club – we want to nurture young talent and build a young, ambitious team. Premier League survival is our priority in the short term, but in the medium and long term we want to make sure everything is in place, from the academy upwards, to create a culture and philosophy within the club that QPR fans can be proud of.”
Meanwhile, former Tottenham Hotspur coach Sherwood remains the red-hot favourite to succeed Redknapp on a long-term basis. The 41-year-old has been out of working since leaving White Hart Lane at the end of last season, but it known to be eager to get back in the game having already been the subject of interviews from a number of clubs in recent months. It has even been suggested in some quarters that the changes at QPR have been made with the view to his appointment.
