Ferdinand denies reports Sherwood has rejected QPR job

Les Ferdinand has denied reports that Tim Sherwood has rejected the QPR manager’s job.

West London Sport revealed shortly before Steve McClaren’s recent sacking that he was set to be dismissed and that Sherwood was Rangers director of football Ferdinand’s first choice to take over, with Mark Warburton, Gary Rowett and Michael Appleton the three other strong contenders. Rowett later pulled out of the running.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Ferdinand said Sherwood remains in contention and – as also previously revealed by West London Sport – that talks have taken place with the likes of Darren Moore and Marc Bircham as well as Warburton and Appleton.

Referring to Sherwood, Ferdinand – who worked alongside him at Tottenham – said: “There’s no talk of him pulling out of it at the moment.”

He added: “We’re still going through a process and hopefully by the end of that process we’ll make the right long-term decision for QPR.

“We’ve spoken to Darren. I’ve been impressed with Darren and what he did at West Brom but, as I have said, we’re compiling that list and trying to be diligent in what we do, to do our homework.

“We knew Marc from his time working under Ian Holloway. Whether he’s ready for this job I am not quite sure but that’s something we need to discuss and go over.”

Moore, controversially sacked by West Brom last month, has indicated that he is interested in the role.

Other possible options

QPR initially expected to install someone very soon after the recent sacking McClaren.

But the possibility of an appointment being delayed until the end of the season has increased, largely because Rangers have edged to Championship safety.

That could open the door to other candidates, including Gareth Ainsworth – as well as several foreign coaches whose representatives have made contact.

It would also almost certainly lead to an approach being made for former QPR assistant boss Kenny Jackett if Portsmouth miss out on promotion from League One.

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Lee Bowyer, whose Charlton team are also in the League One promotion race, and whose contract is due to expire this summer, would be keen if Rangers approached him.

McClaren was on thin ice for some time at Loftus Road and former R’s winger Ainsworth, now manager of Wycombe, was initially seen by QPR as one of five potential replacements along with Sherwood, Rowett, Warburton and Appleton.

The criteria

Momentum behind Ainsworth has since slowed but he has worked with young players on a restricted budget at Wycombe so ticks boxes for Rangers beyond being a popular ex-player.

Amid continued financial challenges, the club’s main criteria for the new manager is an ability to develop players.

Former Brentford boss Warburton, who has also managed Glasgow Rangers and Nottingham Forest, is well regarded in that respect.

So too is Appleton, who has managed Blackburn, Portsmouth and Blackpool – all in troubled circumstances – and has more recently managed Oxford United and been assistant boss at Leicester.

Sherwood achieved some success bringing through players at Tottenham, where he worked closely with Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey.

Chris Ramsey, now QPR technical director, ended up being given the manager’s job in 2015 after Ferdinand unsuccessfully tried to have Sherwood installed in place of Redknapp.

Rowett, who was sacked by Stoke in January, has also previously been pursued by Ferdinand, who wanted to replace Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink with him in 2016.

Rowett was then at Birmingham and, when Ferdinand was unable to prise him away, Rangers’ owners brought Ian Holloway back for a second spell as manager.

As well as Moore, a number of others have expressed an interest in the job, including Bircham, Nigel Pearson, Steve Cotterill and former Derby and Forest boss Billy Davies.

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Bircham made more than 150 appearances for QPR as a player and has since coached youngsters at the club and more recently worked as Holloway’s assistant. He left soon after Holloway was sacked as manager last year.

Pearson had two spells as Leicester boss and has also managed Hull, Derby and Southampton.

Cotterill, like McClaren, had a spell on the coaching staff at QPR during Harry Redknapp’s time as boss.

Cotterill has also managed Cheltenham, Bristol City, Stoke, Burnley, Notts County, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth and Birmingham.