Redknapp to the rescue at QPR
RESCUE ARTIST Harry Redknapp will take over as manager of Queens Park Rangers as successor to the sacked Mark Hughes, and is likely to take charge of his first match away to Sunderland on Wednesday.
Redknapp agreed a threeyear deal worth about NZ$5.8 million a season and a bonus of $2m if he can prevent the bottom club being relegated from the English Premier League. QPR, where All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen is an important part of the defence, are five points adrift of safety and have not won in 12 league games this season.
Redknapp is likely to have to employ all his skills in the transfer market, with QPR’s owners asking him to use existing resources after the club spent heavily on players last summer. He is expected to bring in at least one striker on loan after Bobby Zamora was ruled out with a hip problem for three months, leaving QPR with only two forwards, and he may ask the club to try again to sign Michael Dawson, his former Tottenham Hotspur centreback, to shore up another fragile area of the team.
Redknapp has been out of work since being dismissed by Tottenham Hotspur in June after guiding the club to fourth place in the league last season. He succeeded in keeping Tottenham and Portsmouth in the top flight after taking charge in a similar position, although he failed with the same task at Southampton.
The danger for Redknapp is that QPR fall too far behind in the league before he can address matters in the January transfer window. They were away to Manchester United last night and, after Sunderland, they host to Aston Villa four days later. Other opponents before the new year include Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool.
Hughes had several meetings with the QPR board this week and it appeared that he might get a stay of execution. He asked to be backed or sacked in a heated argument with chief executive Philip Beard at the training ground yesterday, when he was offered the chance to take charge at Old Trafford, but declined as it became clear that he was to be replaced as manager.
Hughes, who had 18 months left on his $5.8m-ayear contract, is likely to be put on ‘‘gardening’’ leave and will continue to be paid by QPR. Although Tony Fernandes, the chairman, has given unwavering public support to Hughes via Twitter and the match-day programme, some of the other shareholders and Beard had far greater concerns.
Ruben Gnanalingam, an influential shareholder who has been in London this week, is thought to have had a big say. Board members spoke to a number of players from the first team this week and it was clear to them that Hughes did not enjoy complete support.
QPR also acted to prevent Redknapp from taking another post after interest in the manager from Ukraine, even if that seemed an unlikely move.
Redknapp said he hoped to bring his two longstanding coaching assistants – Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan – with him to the west London club.
‘‘I’m looking forward to it. It’s a big challenge and a tough job to take on – but I’m up for the challenge,’’ said the 65-year-old Redknapp.
‘‘ The players have got to start performing. If they do that we’ve got a chance. It’s all about the players’’.
CHELSEA LEGENDS Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole are to leave at the end of the season after interim manager Rafa Benitez yesterday confirmed the breakup of the Champions League- winning team.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola is on Brazil’s list of targets as they look for a new manager after sacking Mano Menezes.
Chelsea are working on a deal which would see the former Barcelona boss take the reins at Stamford Bridge in the summer.
But the Brazilian Football Confederation are hoping to make Guardiola the man who leads them to World Cup glory in 2014, a tournament they are hosting.