Rangers Change Manager’s Role

New QPR boss Jim Magilton has vowed to assess ‘every aspect of the club’ writes Dave McIntyre in the local Gazette. Magilton has been given the green light to take over control of football matters, which will include identifying transfer targets and improving areas such as scouting and youth development. It appears to signal a re-think by Rangers owners, who favoured a continental-style set-up following the Flavio Briatore-led takeover 2 years ago. That meant Paulo Sousa and Luigi De Canio had limited influence beyond coaching the 1st team, while Iain Dowie believed he was brought in as a British-style Manager, only to quickly be axed after disagreeing with Briatore. But Magilton is hoping to fare better. This week he installed former England assistant Manager John Gorman as his right-hand man and discussed possible signings with Sporting Director Gianni Paladini.

Gorman worked alongside Magilton at Ipswich and brings a wealth of experience to QPR, having coached at Tottenham, managed Swindon, Northampton and Wycombe and been Southampton’s chief scout. Paladini, who has previously been responsible for hiring players, is now expected to operate as effectively a Chief Executive, who will negotiate any deal once Magilton has suggested a player to sign. It is a role the Italian has performed at Rangers before, particularly while Ian Holloway and John Gregory were in charge. Magilton said: “Ultimately, Managers are judged by results on the pitch. But I’ll look at every aspect of the club: scouting, youth development – all of it. I’ll work with Flavio, John Gorman and Gianni Paladini to improve the club. Everybody here is on the same wavelength.”

Rangers’ once respected youth system has declined in the last decade, leaving Magilton and Gorman with much to do. Magilton said: “I believe in bringing young players through. We tried it at Ipswich and I’ll be looking to do the same here. In terms of young players, all I can say is that if any youngster is good enough he will definitely get a chance while I’m the Manager. It’s an excellent opportunity for me. I had ten years at Ipswich and had some great times there, and this is the chance to start afresh.” Meanwhile, Gorman says he is unperturbed by the previous troubles at Rangers. Magilton is the seventh Manager/Coach in just three-and-a-half years and the fifth since Briatore took over. But Gorman said: “Every club has its ups and downs. The people who run this club have given me and Jim their full backing and I’m hopeful we’ll do well and be here a long time.”