QPR boss shrugs off Zola rumours

Harry Redknapp insists he is unfazed by reports he could be replaced at QPR by Gianfranco Zola.

The Chelsea legend, who resigned as Watford boss three months ago and previously managed West Ham, has been touted as chairman Tony Fernandes’ preferred choice to take over at Loftus Road if Rangers fail to get promoted.

“Good luck to him [Zola]. That’s fine,” said Redknapp. “I don’t take any notice of that. Do you think I’m going to worry about that?

“Do you think I go home at night and don’t sleep in case I get the sack? I’m 67 years of age and I ain’t going to starve – don’t worry about me.

“I’m good at my job, I work for good people and if they want to make a change then fine, that’s up to them.

“If Tony Fernandes says it then I’ll go ‘Right, fine, there must be something in that’. But there’s not – it’s just somebody writing it.

“I’m not going to drive myself mad worrying about Zola getting my job. He’s had a nightmare at Watford this year but he’s a nice guy.”

There has been speculation about Redknapp’s future as his team’s hopes of automatic promotion have faded in recent weeks.

The loss at Brighton on Tuesday was their fourth defeat in six matches, but the former Tottenham manager believes his job is safe – and that Rangers will be promoted, albeit via the play-offs now the top two looks beyond them.

“The day I leave here I’ll shake hands with everybody because I love them all and that’s life. But I don’t see that happening at the moment,” the R’s boss said.

“I want to get promoted and still think we will. It will probably be through the play-offs now – it’ll be hard to make automatic promotion but I’m not giving up on it.

“We’re still sitting fourth in the league with a game in hand. We’re bang there. People get carried away with how good you should be and where you should be.

“We’re short in certain areas. We’ve been short up front. Losing Charlie Austin and then Kevin Doyle – it’s been a problem for us.”

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