New QPR boss Warburton will bring in Banfield

Neil Banfield is set to join Mark Warburton at QPR.

Former Brentford boss Warburton’s appointment as Rangers manager was confirmed on Wednesday and he wants to bring in former Arsenal coach Banfield.

The club have agreed to his request, paving the way for Banfield to come in as Warburton’s right-hand man.

Who is Neil Banfield?

East Londoner Banfield, 57, spent 21 years on the coaching staff at Arsenal, where he was promoted to a first-team role by former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in 2012.

Since leaving Arsenal he has had a scouting role at Glasgow Rangers, where Warburton had a spell as manager.

Banfield also spent just over a year as assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side, working under QPR legend Don Givens.

Eustace to be offered role

John Eustace, who stepped up from the role of assistant manager to take caretaker charge following QPR’s sacking of Steve McClaren, will be offered the chance to remain at the club.

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.

Always a front-runner

Warburton, who spent nine months as Nottingham Forest manager in 2017, has signed a two-year contract at Loftus Road.

He had been immediately identified by the club as a possible replacement for McClaren – he was one of four leading candidates along with Tim Sherwood, Gary Rowett and Michael Appleton.

After leaving Watford, Warburton was a coach and sporting director at Brentford before taking over as manager in 2013.

He led the Bees to promotion later that season and the Championship play-offs the following year.

He is credited with much of Brentford’s success in the scouting and development of players.

That and his background as a youth coach made him an obvious strong contender for the QPR job given the club’s difficult financial position.