Radical change was needed at QPR – Warburton

Mark Warburton insists he has no doubt that a major overhaul was necessary at QPR.

A raft of signings and the departures of several players this summer means the squad has been transformed since Warburton took over as manager at Loftus Road.

But Warburton says he and his backroom team, director of football Les Ferdinand and chief executive Lee Hoos all agreed that radical changes were called for.

Warburton said: “You look at the situation and say ‘Do I go softly, softly here, or do we really throw a hand grenade in?’

“Do you need to move some players on? Do you need some fresh blood? Do you need to bring experience and youthfulness?

“We looked at it and it was very, very clear what we needed to do. It was a case of what QPR need right now.

“We spoke to the CEO and Les and we were all agreed that we needed radical surgery.

“It was the right thing. The club have been in the doldrums. I feel quite strongly that it was the right time to move aggressively in the market.”

That view was certainly held by John Eustace, who has reverted back to the role of assistant manager, having ended last season in interim charge following the sacking of Steve McClaren.

Eustace told the QPR hierarchy in April – and later told Warburton – that complete revamp was needed in order to change the mentality around the club.

“I’ve spent many hours talking to John about the players and he made that clear to me as well – that it needed freshening up,” Warburton explained.

“There were people in a comfort zone. That stagnant feel, we had to change that.”