Redknapp may not get chance to consider QPR options

Harry Redknapp has revealed he will only consider a new contract at Queens Park Rangers at the end of the season, but will be even get to such a stage?

The 67-year-old succeeded Mark Hughes as manager of the Loftus Road club in November 2012, but was unable to rectify their poor form of early season and, in April, the Londoners were relegated from the Premier League with three games still to play. Many expected Redknapp to quit at the time, but to his credit, he remained at the club and led them back to the top-flight at the first time of asking, courtesy of the playoffs.

QPR fans were hoping, and perhaps even expecting, a much better showing amongst the elite this time round, but it has thus far proved to be another uncomfortable experience. Sunday’s timid 2-0 loss at West Ham United was their fifth reverse of their seven fixtures, and left them rooted to the foot of the table as we head into the international break.

This following a summer in which he persuaded Tony Fernandes, the club’s owner, to once again open the chequebook to spend the best part of £30million on the likes of Steven Caulker, Leroy Fer, Jordan Mutch and Sandro, and whilst Rio Ferdinand arrived on a free after being released by Manchester United, his salary is unlikely to be minimal.

So maybe it was far from surprising to read earlier this week that Redknapp, who will be out of contract at the end of the season, has had a fresh offer to extend his stay withdrawn by the club. Certainly relegation back to the second-tier would be nothing short of disastrous for the capital club, and their manager appears to be of the opinion that even if their wretched run of results were to continue, he will still be in charge to oversee their fate.

“We’ll see where QPR finish the season and take it from there,” he is quoted in The Sun. “If we get relegated I wouldn’t expect to stay and I wouldn’t want to. If I’d wanted to sign the contract I could’ve done a long time ago. So we’ll see where we are come May, won’t we? I may have had enough by then and so might the people that run the club.”

Yet unless there is an upturn in fortune in the near future, the chances are Redknapp’s decision on whether to wait until the end of the season will likely be taken out of his hands. Fernandes, remember, sacked both Neil Warnock and Mark Hughes during mid-season when it became apparent they would be immersed in a relegation fight. And despite the respect he has for the current incumbent, the Malaysian could yet strike a third time.

Is Redknapp on borrowed time at QPR, or should they keep faith with him for the rest of the season? Let us know your thoughts by joining in the discussion below.

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