Tony Fernandes had more than hinted last week that Neil Warnock’s departure could be forthcoming and the Club then issued the following statement yesterday:
‘Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today (Sunday 8th January 2012) parted company with Manager Neil Warnock.
Warnock joined the Club in March 2010, overseeing 84 matches in charge, winning 33, drawing 27 and losing 24. Last season, he successfully guided the Club back to the Premier League for the first time in 15 years. The Board’s commitment to retaining our Premier League status ultimately led to this decision.
QPR Assistant Manager Mick Jones and First team Coach Keith Curle have also left the Club.
QPR Chairman, Tony Fernandes, said: “This decision has been made in the best interests of the Club and I can assure everyone that this is not a decision that was made lightly. Sadly, our recent run of poor form has seen us slip alarmingly down the table and the Board felt it was the right time to make a change. Neil has acted with honesty, professionalism and integrity throughout his time at the Club, and I would personally like to thank him for his significant contribution to QPR over the last 22 months. I genuinely wish him all the very best for the future and he will always be welcome back at Loftus Road.”
QPR Vice-Chairman, Amit Bhatia, added: “It is with a very heavy heart that we make this announcement. I played a key role in bringing Neil to Loftus Road and consider him to be a close personal friend and a great professional. I would like to place on record my thanks to him for transforming us from a Championship Club to a Premier League Club. As a Club we have gained enormously from Neil’s wisdom, experience and leadership. He has always performed his managerial duties to the very highest standards.”
“I wish Neil every success going forward and he will always be welcome at QPR. I now look forward to the future and the rest of the season as we work towards stabilising our position in the Premier League.”
Neil Warnock said: “Obviously I’m very disappointed, but having achieved so much, I leave the Club with a great sense of pride. I have enjoyed my time here more than anywhere else and the QPR fans have been brilliant with me – they deserve success. My biggest regret is that the takeover didn’t happen earlier, because that would have given me the opportunity to bring in the targets I’d pinpointed all last summer and probably given us a better chance to succeed in the Premier League.”
He added: “The Board at QPR are hugely ambitious and I wish them every success for the future. I’ve been involved in the game a long time and I will be spending the immediate future with my family and friends before deciding my next career move.”
The Club will now begin its search for a new Manager and will make a further announcement in due course.’
Steve Russell