QPR confirm Warburton’s new contract

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QPR manager Mark Warburton

QPR have confirmed that manager Mark Warburton has signed a new contract. 

The club have been looking to give him an improved deal following an encouraging second campaign at the helm.

Assistant boss John Eustace, who recently turned down the Swansea City manager’s job, is also in line for a new contract.

Warburton told QPR’s website: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to continue the development of the squad and to work with the staff in taking the club forward.

“We have improved each season, we are in good shape but now we have to keep building.

“Going into my third season here there is a very evident expectation which is testament to the players for their strong finish to last year.

“That now sets the bar. We have to push on from there.

“We are in a very privileged position to work in football and we must work hard to justify the faith of the board and the supporters.”

Former Brentford manager Warburton guided Rangers to a ninth-placed finish last season – a significant improvement on the previous year despite last summer’s departures of forwards Ebere Eze and Jordan Hugill, which followed the loss of Nahki Wells.

There was a dramatic turnaround during the second half of the season, largely inspired by the arrivals of the likes of Charlie Austin and Stefan Johansen.

QPR boss Mark Warburton
Rangers have made encouraging progress since Warburton’s arrival

Austin and Johansen have since been signed on a permanent basis along with Jordy de Wijs and Sam Field, who were also on loan with the R’s last season.

Warburton’s brief when appointed was to replicate Brentford’s success in progressing on the pitch while developing players into saleable assets.

Tangible progress for QPR

He can point to the progress of the likes of Eze, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ilias Chair, Rob Dickie and Chris Willock during his tenure.

Signings such as those of Yoann Barbet and Lee Wallace have been vindicated as well – Barbet was ever-present last season and Wallace’s rejuvenation earned the Scot a new contract.

Warburton has been determined to make improvements this summer, with the Johansen deal a top priority.

He has also been keen to bring in wing-backs on both flanks.

Moses Odubajo was duly signed, while Sam McCallum was recently brought in on loan from Norwich after Rangers were unable to agree a fee with Dutch outfit Fortuna Sittard for former Brighton left-back George Cox.

Warburton is therefore ready to offload Niko Hamalainen.