Harry: I tried, but it has not been enough
Harry Redknapp accepted QPR’s relegation following the 2-0 defeat at home to Stoke and insisted he did all he could to keep the club in the Premier League.
Although not mathematically down, there is no realistic chance of Rangers staying up.
And Redknapp believes they could have survived had strikers Loic Remy and Bobby Zamora been available to him throughout the all-important run-in.
Remy missed crucial games with an injury, while Zamora has been hampered by a hip condition and was banned for three matches following a recent sending-off.
Redknapp said: “That looks like it now. It’s almost impossible for sure. It’s a big disappointment.
“I can’t look back and say I haven’t tried hard. I have, but it’s not been enough.
“I came here and felt we could do it, but you’re never sure until you come here and work with the team and see who’s who.
“I think we’ve been in every game other than against Liverpool, who battered us. It’s just that thin dividing line.
“I felt Remy and Zamora would be a partnership. I think it would have been ideal.
“Even today, in the first half I thought we were bang in the game. But without Zamora we lack a real target. Remy needs a target man.”
And Redknapp repeated his warning that Rangers can expect the going to be tough in the Championship next season despite their owners’ willingness to spend big.
“I think this is a good club but when people say ‘Come back up next year’ – it’ll be very tough, don’t kid yourself,” he said.
“You need the right characters and that is something that will have to be looked at.
“I enjoy it here and have said many times the owners are genuinely nice people.
“It’s a shame for them that [despite] the money invested – they felt they were building a team that would do well – it’s not worked out.”
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26/04/2013 @ 11:20 pm
I did make a comment here yesterday but it has disappeared. Any particular reason why?
21/04/2013 @ 7:16 pm
If we are realy keen about football, and club,
We need to bring back Mark hugeh in the club,
Every one must need to understand why club
Strogling, ?
Mark was doing best of his knowledge to put club up.
But there were factors, 1, Too much complaining
from fan. 2, players injured, 3, big name of the players from
different place and tactice,
Mark is still strong recommended person for club,
21/04/2013 @ 9:56 am
QPR are now more points from safety than when redknapp took over?? Is this true?!! Wow!
20/04/2013 @ 6:56 pm
Oh Barry Redbaps, you looked so unconvincing on the bbc when you talked about next season, it was painful. The hypothesis of injured players is irrelevant ..if Whu had Carroll the whole season, blah blah.. You are NOT Houdini you are an imposter!!
20/04/2013 @ 6:48 pm
The culture at the club needs to change, under warnock we were hardworking and honest, under hughes we were arrogant and had a sense of entitlement. redknapp inherited a club with terminal issues, but has to take some responsibility, we spent a lot of money in january and have not even made a fight of it.
new blood needed next year that are hungry and committed, both in dugout and on the pitch.