Warnock brings in Blackwell to assist him at QPR

Neil Warnock has brought in Kevin Blackwell to assist him at QPR.

Blackwell worked with Warnock at Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Bury and Plymouth, having played under him at Scarborough, Notts County and Torquay.

Rangers were keen to appoint Blackwell as manager in 2009 but were unable to agree his release from Sheffield United.

As well as the Blades, the 56-year-old ex-goalkeeper has managed Leeds, Luton and Bury.

Former Rangers boss Warnock was recently placed in interim charge following the sacking of head coach Chris Ramsey.

QPR’s owners have met with director of football Les Ferdinand in Malaysia this week to discuss the club’s longer-term plans.

Ferdinand, who was due to attend a fans forum on Thursday, has been advised by doctors not to travel for at least 24 hours after being laid low by food poisoning. 

Several managers have been touted as possible contenders to replace Ramsey, including Tim Sherwood and Nigel Pearson.

Neither are currently being considered for the job but at this stage it is unclear how much of an input Warnock, who favours Pearson, will have.

Warnock is keen to influence the recruitment process and would like a role at Loftus Road similar to the one currently held by Ferdinand.

Pearson, a leading contender for the Fulham manager’s job, was sacked by Leicester City in June following a number of run-ins with the Midlands club’s owners, who are friends of QPR’s co-chairmen Ruben Gnanalingam and Tony Fernandes.

Sherwood was lined up to replace Harry Redknapp at QPR last year but Fernandes later became reluctant to appoint him and instead pursued Paul Clement, who was then assistant boss at Real Madrid and is now Derby manager, before eventually installing Ramsey.

Former Tottenham manager Sherwood is available, having recently been sacked by Aston Villa, but the Rangers hierarchy do not currently regard him as a candidate.