QPR speak to Holloway about manager’s job

QPR have spoken to Ian Holloway about the vacant manager’s job at Loftus Road.

Holloway led Rangers to promotion from the third tier during a five-year spell as boss and remains a popular figure among many fans.

The 53-year-old, who made more than 150 appearances as a player for QPR, was axed as manager in 2006 and has since managed Plymouth, Leicester, Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Millwall. He currently works as a television pundit.

Tim Sherwood was immediately installed as the odds-on favourite to replace Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink but appears to be out of the running.

Sherwood, a close friend of Les Ferdinand, worked with the Rangers director of football during their time together at Tottenham and more recently had a spell as Aston Villa manager.

He is one of a number of potential candidates the Rangers hierarchy have discussed, but by Monday morning the chances of Sherwood being appointed looked slim.

QPR’s owners are admirers of ex-Derby manager Paul Clement, now assistant to Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti.

The 44-year-old son of former QPR and England right-back Dave Clement was lined up to take over at Rangers following the departure of Harry Redknapp in February 2015.

At the time he was Ancelotti’s right-hand man at Real Madrid and wanted to see out the remaining months of his contract at the Spanish club.

Chris Ramsey was therefore installed at QPR initially as stop-gap, but impressed during the early stages of his time in charge and was given the job on a permanent basis.

Clement subsequently took over as manager at Derby, who sacked him in February this year with the club fifth in the Championship table.

Hasselbaink, fired after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, became QPR manager in December 2015.

Kenny Jackett, then facing an uncertain future at Wolves, was strongly suggested to Rangers’ owners but they chose Hasselbaink.

Jackett, who was assistant manager at QPR for much of Holloway’s reign as boss, recently took over at Rotherham.

Birmingham manager Gary Rowett was also in Rangers’ sights last year but stayed at St Andrews.

Steve Cotterill, briefly on the coaching staff at Rangers under Redknapp, wants the job, while Dougie Freedman and Karl Robinson have both applied.

Freedman, who began his career at Loftus Road but did not make a first-team appearance for the club, is looking to return to management eight months after leaving Nottingham Forest.

The 42-year-old Scot spent 13 months in charge at the City Ground and has also managed Crystal Palace and Bolton.

He left QPR to join Barnet in 1994 and went on to play for Palace – where he had two spells – as well as Forest and Wolves.

Robinson, 36, guided MK Dons to promotion to the Championship in 2015, but they were relegated after one season in the second tier and he left the club last month following a poor start to the campaign.

He was not seriously considered by QPR last year but could be interviewed this time around.