QPR-bound Warburton keen to bring in Banfield

Mark Warburton is set to be confirmed as QPR manager and wants to add former Arsenal coach Neil Banfield to his backroom team.

East Londoner Banfield, 57, spent 21 years on the coaching staff at Arsenal, where he was promoted to a first-team role by former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in 2012.

Since leaving Arsenal he has had a scouting role at Glasgow Rangers, where Warburton had a spell as manager.

Banfield also spent just over a year as assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side, working under QPR legend Don Givens.

See also: QPR close to installing Warburton as manager

Warburton, who has also managed Brentford and Nottingham Forest, is returning to west London after being offered the chance to take over at Loftus Road.

Rangers sacked Steve McClaren last month, with Warburton identified as one of four leading candidates to take over along with Tim Sherwood, Gary Rowett and Michael Appleton.

Warburton was a coach and sporting director at Brentford before taking over as manager in 2013.

He led the Bees to promotion later that season and the Championship play-offs the following year.

He is credited with much of Brentford’s success in the scouting and development of players. That and his background as a youth coach made him an obvious strong contender for the QPR job given the club’s difficult financial position.