QPR linked with drastic change at the top
The rumours about QPR boss Neil Warnock being replaced by a manager with more Premier League experience following promotion refuse to go away and the latest murmur in the Daily Mirror is that former Chelsea chief Claudio Ranieri is being lined up for a return to west London.
It's regular practise for foreign owners to be linked with coaches from their homeland - Napoletani Gianni Paladini is the main power player at Loftus Road these days - but there's actual precedent in QPR's case after Italian tactician Luigi De Canio's unspectacular spell in charge of the club in 2007-08.
Warnock has admitted that far from just being tabloid speculation, he isn't 100 per cent confident that he will be given the opportunity to lead QPR into their first top-flight campaign in 15 years, however Paladini claims that the ex-Sheffield United man has the complete support of the investors.
While Ranieri's coaching record is solid, the majority of the Championship winners' fans are unlikely to consider him a big enough name to justify sacking a manager who has transformed their side at an incredibly swift pace after they battled relegation prior to his arrival last March.
Ranieri did a good job laying the foundations at Chelsea following their takeover without achieving enough success on the field to keep him in work, and his trophy cabinet isn't too full despite proving popular at most of the teams he has worked for, with his CV featuring Valencia, Roma and Juventus.
Thursday night sees the start of the Championship play-offs as Swansea, Cardiff, Reading and Nottingham Forest fight for the opportunity to join QPR and Norwich among English football's elite, with Swansea rated the favourites to follow them up at [3.6].
Would Ranieri be an upgrade on Warnock? Offer your opinion in the box below...
Published: 12 May 2011
Alex (May 12, 2011 9:34 AM) said:
Not at all, the board would be the biggest bunch of muppets if they follow the lead of that dipstick paladini! Whatever he's done for QPR over the years us fans thank you and thank you for finally getting us some top top executives but please stop suggesting such ridiculous ideas, whether it be pure speculation or a hint of truth let Warnock get on with what he does best. Of course he deserves a chance, for what he's done for the club he should be at least honoured the contract he signed.
Anonymous (May 12, 2011 10:21 AM) said:
Paladini has actually helped get QPR to where they are now. Although he is a shady character he was the one who helped get Briatore involved which led to Ecclestone and the Mittal family coming onboard. I don't trust Paladini but he has been a major factor helping us get backk to the premier league.
Paladini and the Mittal family have already puiblicly announced that Warnock will not be replaced this summer so this is just another stupid rumour!!
nick (May 12, 2011 11:25 AM) said:
This would be a royal stinker. Warnock has turned QPR from a laughing stock into a Premiership team in just one spectacular season. To reward him and the team (and the fans) by replacing him with a far less inspiring manager like Ranieri would be plain insulting and ridiculous. Okay, I think it remains to be seen whether or not Warnock & the team will cut it in the top division, but they definitely deserve an opportunity to show what they can do. Let's be honest, I don't think anyone saw them walking the Championship, so let's see if they can repeat the process to a certain extent. Could Ranieri do any better? I doubt it very much.
Terry (May 12, 2011 8:15 PM) said:
Would any other club apart from QPR even think of changing their manager after such a brilliant season.
Neil Warnock has had a great season, he gets the respect he deserves from the players and I'm sure QPR will be able to make some good signings while he is in charge.
Just because Ranieri managed Chelsea it doesn't make him a great manager.
Let Neil Warnock and the team enjoy this moment and build for next season without all this added pressure.