Despite failing to keep them in the Premier League, Chris Ramsey has been appointed the permanent head coach at Queens Park Rangers.
Ramsey was promoted following the departure of Harry Redknapp in February, at a time when the capital club were already in grave danger of losing their status in the top-flight. The 53-year-old won just three of his 14 matches at the Loftus Road helm, losing nine of these fixtures including the 6-0 defeat at Manchester City which confirmed their relegation earlier this month.
QPR now head into the final weekend bottom of the table, knowing they must fare better in their match with Leicester City than Burnley do at Aston Villa if they are to avoid the wooden spoon. But despite their struggles, Ramsey has done enough to impress chairman Tony Fernandes, who has confirmed that the former England Under-20 coach has been handed a three-year deal.
“When Chris took over the role we were already in a very difficult position, yet despite our relegation, we – as a board – have been impressed with the professionalism and attention to detail he has demonstrated since becoming head coach,” he said. “I am sure he will flourish in this role, as we look to bounce back from this season’s disappointments. This is a new start for us.”
Ramsey will likely be tasked with a huge overhaul of his playing staff during the summer, with a number of players including Joey Barton, Richard Dunne, Alejandro Fraulin and Bobby Zamora out of contract whilst Robert Green and Leroy Fer are amongst those expected to be sold. It will certainly be a challenge, but it is one the new permanent head coach will relish.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for me and one I am tremendously excited about,” said Ramsey. “I enjoyed my time in temporary charge, despite the way the season panned out, and now I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping rebuild this club over the coming years. I fully intend to do everything possible to help build a QPR team to be proud of.”
Is it realistic to task Chris Ramsey with earning an instant return to the Premier League, or do Queens Park Rangers fans need to show more patience?
