QPR Manager Search: Latest Rumours, Speculation on Vacant Position

Queens Park Rangers have announced Chris Ramsey as their manager through the end of the season.

Continue for updates.

---

Ramsey Officially Named QPR Manager

Friday, Feb. 13

QPR announced Chris Ramsey as their new head coach on Friday:

"

QPR can confirm that Chris Ramsey has been appointed Head Coach until the end of the 2014/15 season.

Ramsey will work alongside Kevin Bond (First Team Coach) and Kevin Hitchcock (Goalkeeping Coach). Director of Football Les Ferdinand will oversee the trio whilst also having a presence on the training ground for the remainder of the campaign.

QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes, told www.qpr.co.uk: “In the wake of Harry Redknapp’s resignation, it was my desire to identify the right individual for the job and at this time, we believe Chris is the ideal candidate.

“He has impressed everyone here in his short time in charge and I firmly believe he is the right man – working closely with Les – to lead us until the end of the season.

"

Sky Sports reported that Ramsey will be named QPR manager until the end of the season. David Hytner of The Guardian confirmed Sky's report. 

On Feb. 11, Matt Law of The Telegraph reported on Ramsey, who has manned the touchline after Redknapp's departure, and his chances of keeping the job.

---

Laudrup Won't Leave Qatar for QPR

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Marcus Christenson of the Guardian passed along comments from Laudrup, who says he won't be leaving Qatar: 

"

On Tuesday the Dane had also been linked to taking over the Japanese national team but said: “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.

“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.”

"

Sky Sports reported Laudrup is "not in the running to be QPR manager."

This conflicts with Luke Augustus of the Daily Mail, who yesterday reported Laudrup was the favourite for the position following news Tim Sherwood was out of the running.

Laudrup, 50, is currently the manager of Lekhwiya in the Qatar Stars League.

---

Sherwood Out of Running After Talks Break Down

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Once considered the favourite for the position, Sherwood is now no longer a candidate for the QPR manager position after talks broke down between the two sides, per The Telegraph. The report noted that "talks with the club broke down over his demands."

Sherwood's route to the QPR job was previously reported as being in doubt on Feb. 6 after he was alleged to have had a "row over personal terms" with the club's owner Tony Fernandes, per David Woods of the Daily Star:

"

Starsport understands the former Tottenham coach wants £6m over the course of a three-year-deal. But Rangers owner Tony Fernandes is 'only' prepared to pay him £1m a year plus bonuses. Sherwood is also thought to be concerned at the size of the budget he will have to boost the squad in the summer if they do stay up.

"

---

Tony Fernandes Comments on Search

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Club owner Tony Fernandes commented on their manager search on Tuesday, suggesting he has found his top choice to fill the vacancy:

---

Paul Clement Turns Down QPR Job; McLaren Denies Interest

Friday, Feb. 6

Dominic Fifield of the Guardian reported comments from Real Madrid assistant manager Paul Clement regarding his link to the QPR job: 

"

I’m very flattered to be linked with Queens Park Rangers, a club I supported as a young boy and for whom my dad played. It would be a real honour to manage that club at some point in the future. But, at this time, I’ve got no intention of leaving Real Madrid in mid-season.

"

Fifield also passed along comments from Derby County manager Steve McLaren regarding his link to the job:

"

I answered that a few weeks ago, and it is the same answer now. Nothing changes. We laugh it off and move on quick. So let’s focus and concentrate on the job in hand which is trying to get Derby County into the Premier League.

"

---

Ferdinand Becomes Director of Football at QPR

Wednesday, Feb. 4

Les Ferdinand is the new director of football at QPR, moving from the head of football operations role he held during the reign of Redknapp. His switch was confirmed on the club's website:

"

R’s legend Ferdinand, who re-joined the club in October in the position of Head of Football Operations, will now be responsible for overseeing the entire footballing department at Loftus Road, with a mandate of building for the future.

The 48-year-old has already made significant improvements to the footballing philosophy of the club since his return—and the Board are now keen for him to have more of a hands-on role at all levels, particularly in the field of recruitment, working closely with the First Team.

"

Paul Brown of the Daily Star also believes the club are moving closer to appointing Tim Sherwood, who is a "shoo-in" to land his second manager's job if terms can be agreed. Brown reports that Sherwood has "long been the preferred candidate of the board should Redknapp leave."

QPR owner Tony Fernandes provided an update on Twitter:

---

Sherwood Initially Was Favourite to Replace Redknapp

Tuesday, Feb. 3

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

According to The Telegraph's Matt Law, Tim Sherwood was the overwhelming favourite to take on the job, the 45-year-old being sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

Current QPR coaches Les Ferdinand—put in temporary charge along with Chris Ramsey following Redknapp's departure—and Glenn Hoddle are also being touted as possible replacements, per B/R UK:

However, Sherwood seemed to be the clear front-runner despite only spending five months as a Premier League manager before being dismissed by Spurs—although his win percentage was impressive per Sky Sports:

As football writer Greg Stobart indicates, if Sherwood did indeed get the job, he would have joined a number of others at the club who have previously coached at White Hart Lane:

While this would no doubt have been advantageous, the sensible option could potentially be to simply promote from within with the club in their current situation, as Sherwood may have required some time to settle in—time QPR currently do not have.

QPR's main issue this season has been an inability to win on the road, they have yet to pick up an away point in 11 matches, the worst run in the English top flight for over half a century, per Opta:

If Sherwood was ultimately hired, he would have had very little time to implement his own style, and had he not turned around QPR's form quickly, they would have been doomed for the drop.

The timing is not ideal with the transfer window just closing, but with many Hoops fans becoming impatient with Redknapp's methods, a change could prove a positive in the long run.