NEIL Warnock is being strongly linked with the QPR managerial vacancy following Gareth Ainsworth’s dismissal last night.
A 2-1 home defeat to Leicester proved to be the final straw for the Hoops’ owners, who relived Ainsworth of his duties after just 10 months in the Loftus Road hotseat.
The Foxes result was a sixth straight Championship defeat and leaves QPR six points from safety and now former boss Warnock is poised for a third spell in charge, according to Sky Sports and the Telegraph.
Warnock enjoyed a two-year spell as manager between 2010 and 2012, as well as a brief temporary caretaker in 2015.
The 74-year-old has a wealth of experience of keeping Championship clubs up with his latest rescue act coming last season with Huddersfield Town, a club he left only a month ago.
Other potential candidates include Michael Beale, Nathan Jones and John Eustace but Warnock looks in pole position to land the gig, with QPR chief executive Lee Hoos hinting a prompt appointment is on the cards.
Explaining why they had acted now to end Ainsworth and assistant manager Richard Dobson’s tenure, Hoos said: “Making a call such as this is never easy, and it is even more difficult when you have such respect on both a personal and professional level for the individuals concerned, which we all do for Gareth and Richard.
“Many supporters have told me in recent months that they have never wanted someone to succeed more than Gareth, which is an indication of the fondness everyone associated with QPR has for him.
“Unfortunately, results this season haven’t gone the way we all wanted and we feel a change is necessary.
“Gareth has been a pleasure to work with from the moment he arrived and I am truly sorry this has not worked out as we all had hoped.
“On behalf of the board, I wholeheartedly thank Gareth for his commitment, desire, passion and professionalism. We all have the utmost respect for him, and he will always be welcome here.
“We understand the importance of appointing a new head coach quickly and an announcement on this will follow in the coming days.”
