Chris Ramsey has been appointed Queens Park Rangers manager for the rest of the season, yet he is unlikely to be offered the position beyond this time.
The Loftus Road club have been in the market for a new boss since Harry Redknapp resigned earlier this month, and a number of names had been linked with the vacancy. Chairman Tony Fernandes recently said he was closing on his ‘dream’ manager, thought to be either former Swansea City coach Michael Laudrup or Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement, yet he was unable to get the deal over the line.
Ramsey was in the dugout in midweek when Rangers recorded their first away win of the season, 2-0 at Sunderland, a result which has lifted them out of the relegation zone. Results such as this are sure to help the 52-year-old if he puts his name forward to be made permanent manager in the summer, although it appears as though Fernandes will look elsewhere for Redknapp’s successor.
“The decision has been taken to defer the permanent appointment until the end of the season,” the chairman told the official club website. “We spoke to many individuals who were interested in the role, one of whom I was quoted on as being a dream, but none of them were right to take the club forward at this time for a variety of reasons, whereas we firmly believe Chris [Ramsey] is. We are keen for the position to be a long-term appointment that will play a major role in shaping the future on-field progression of QPR. For that reason, it is vitally important that we get the right individual.”
Having been dumped out of the FA Cup by League One side Sheffield United at the third round stage, QPR are not in action this week. Ramsey will instead be focusing on next weekend, when they can climb at least one place in the standings by winning at Steve Bruce’s Hull City. Three of the next four matches will be at Loftus Road – the visits of Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton – with a trip across the capital to take on Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace completing the calendar month of March.
“This is a great privilege and an honour for me,” said Ramsey upon his appointment. “I am excited about leading the club between now and the end of the season. I will still be involved in the running of the Academy for the rest of this season and beyond. Continuity is very important when it comes to the development of young players, which is something I am very mindful of.”
