Henry should not have been given QPR deal – Holloway

Ian Holloway says he would not have given Karl Henry a new contract had he been QPR manager in the summer.

Henry has been told to find a new club by Holloway, who recently recalled Michael Doughty from a season-long loan at Swindon and has also decided Ariel Borysiuk is surplus to requirements.

Henry, who turned 34 in November, signed a one-year deal at Loftus Road in the summer after being handed the chance to stay on as a squad player under Holloway’s predecessor Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

“I’ve had to be harsh and say ‘Sorry, I wouldn’t have kept you last summer’,” Holloway said.

“Just because my idea is different to Jimmy’s doesn’t make it right or wrong. He (Henry) is dealing with it in the proper way.

“I personally wouldn’t have let Doughty go out on loan and if Karl Henry was here and he had a year (left on his contract) I would have kept both of them.

“But I wouldn’t have re-signed Karl. I would not have signed on someone who’s 34-stroke-35 and not given him another opportunity to play. Karl knows this.

“But Jimmy decided to do that. What can I say? Is Jimmy right or wrong? It’s not even relevant. The fact is I want to play a different way than Jimmy did.”

Having a think

Holloway has also suggested that Henry, who joined QPR from Wolves in 2013, could choose retirement rather than an opportunity to extend his career elsewhere.

He said: “Karl’s having a think about the rest of his life. Does he need to do this now? He’s had a very, very good career.

“I don’t know what he wants yet. Does he want another year? If I was as fit as him and as good as him I would definitely want to keep playing, but does he? I don’t know.

“He’s a fantastic man and if he stays here I will involve him as I have been involving him.

“I haven’t had to do anything horrible and throw him with the kids or anything like that, because he’s a fantastic pro.

“If there’s anyone out there who wants a fantastic pro who can play in midfield for this year and next year, it’s definitely Karl, so do it.

“He would get a massive thumbs-up from me to anybody who wants a senior pro to help their group.”