Mark Warburton’s first priorities after taking over at QPR
Mark Warburton was confirmed as QPR manager on Wednesday and certainly faces a tough challenge ahead. Here are the immediate issues he will need to resolve.
QPR backroom staff
Warburton wants to bring in former Arsenal coach Neil Banfield and has been told he can do so. John Eustace, assistant manager under Steve McClaren and more recently caretaker boss, is under contract and will be given the chance to stay on.
The new manager knows Eustace from Warburton’s time on the coaching staff at Watford and he later tried to sign him for Glasgow Rangers when Eustace was at Derby.
Warburton’s background in youth coaching means he also knows QPR technical director Chris Ramsey well.
Resolve futures of out-of-contract players
Several Rangers are coming towards the end of their contract. Warburton has already given the club his thoughts on who he would like to keep – candidates were asked their view on the subject during the recruitment process.
The players in question include Jake Bidwell, who played under him at Brentford, as well as the likes of Joel Lynch, Grant Hall, Jordan Cousins and Pawel Wszolek. The club hold options enabling them to extend the contracts.
Establish the budget
Things will be tight and Rangers will need to sell in order to spend any significant money. The new manager will therefore need to know where he stands, which will mean establishing how much solid interest there is out there in the likes of Luke Freeman.
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31/07/2019 @ 7:13 am
Two months later you might say that Warbs has sorted most of the issues, and most of the issues were sorted rather quickly and swiftly. A week before the window closes a few players shoud go (Goss, Mass and perhaps Oteh on loan) and an extra striker would be nice. But the main thing is that the optimism is back. I can’t wait for the new season to begin. Come on You R’ss
10/05/2019 @ 8:53 pm
Rob Sharp is pretty much bang on with his comments. 47 years a fan and agree with all of that. QPR has its roots in playing attacking football, having several flare players, letting wingers with pace be wingers, encouraging youth with a few mature guiding heads. Hopefully Warburton will emulate Warnock as Rob said and get the units in the team tight, communicating (which they don’t do anywhere near enough) and enjoying the process of playing the game, which has evaporated too often recently.
10/05/2019 @ 4:11 pm
“I think over 50% of the squad are really div one standard at best. Sorry but the results don’t lie.” – very very true.
10/05/2019 @ 12:45 pm
C’mon you rrrr’s – get next season sorted quickly and then go for it.
10/05/2019 @ 10:07 am
I also have been a fan for 59 years and have brilliant memories and sad ones but that’s football. I would much prefer to watch the youth develop and play with a couple of great senior players to organise and play has the qpr fans want 100/00 percent every game, they are living our dreams and they should appreciate how privileged being a football player is. My favourite manager warnock didn’t spend a lot but sorted the defence out (needed urgently again) and signed the two players who did the above in every game Derry and Hill his best signings.Then he gets the sack far to early so that we can let Hughes and redknapp ruin my club with money grabbers who didn’t care about QPR. So my message to the board is your bad choices concerning managers and the financial mistakes is why we can’t compete with the bigger clubs but you cannot have a young side and then sell them as your building plans start to come together so keep the future gems and buy or sign a couple of free player who can do for us what Derry and Hill did and reach for the stars. I also believe that players should have a basic wages but large bonuses at the end of season dependent on where you finish.
Regards to all rob sharp
09/05/2019 @ 11:19 pm
To be honest I don’t feel we’ve had any really terrible managers over the last decade (excluding Redknapp and Hughes of course), but the ability of our so called 1st eleven is very much in question. Can anyone honestly say that our first team squad has the ability to be pushing for the play-offs? I think over 50% of the squad are really div one standard at best. Sorry but the results don’t lie.
09/05/2019 @ 4:50 pm
Bad mistake by QPR appointing a man who has been out of work since 2017
Question why nobody else wanted him
Haven’t we learnt our lesson after employing Holloway who’d been out of work as a manager for ages?
Will give him until Xmas, but feeling very pessemistic about new season
09/05/2019 @ 4:15 pm
Dont lose your magic wand – you will need it.
09/05/2019 @ 3:21 pm
Hi
I have supported QPR for 65 years,Had two trials with them Age 10 and Twelve, supported them home and away, but I have never felt they have been in worse hands than they have been over the past 4/5 years .
The deciton making when it comes to choosing mangers could not be worse , I feel terribly sorry for the young supporters they will never see the likes of Marsh bowels Thomas Francis Mason Parks Seaman etc etch wish the new manager well but I fear another frustrating season for the fans.