There has been contrasting news to greet the fans of Queens Park Rangers and Reading Football clubs after last night’s clash in the Championship. While Rangers have decided to go Dutch in the form of new manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Reading have reacted to their late 1-0 defeat at the Madejski Stadium by sacking Steve Clarke.
Clarke leaves after a year in charge
Former Chelsea player, Clarke had been in charge of The Royals for a year and had only recently been linked with the managerial vacancy at Championship rivals Fulham. His fate was believed to have been sealed after an early morning meeting with the club’s directors on Friday.
Joining Clarke on his way out of the club is the assistant manager Kevin Keen.
Defeat to QPR thanks to an injury-time header from Nedum Onuoha left Reading eleven points behind leaders Brighton in 9th place in the league, as they fast approach the half-way mark in the season. Clearly the board are keen to allow a new man time to turn their fortunes around judging by the decision, with their fate in the interim being handled by current under-21s manager Martin Kuhl.
Clarke’s dismissal illustrates the fine lines between success and failure in such a tight and tricky league as the Championship. Had his former side grabbed a winner instead of QPR, they would have climbed into the top six.
Interesting appointment by QPR
QPR supporters will have been buoyed not only by grabbing all three points yesterday but also one suspects by Hasselbaink’s appointment.
The former Leeds United and Chelsea striker had been in charge of Burton Albion in League One up to that point, having guided them to the League Two title last season. He leaves the Brewers in good shape, currently two points clear at the top of League One.
Yesterday’s victory lifted Rangers into the top half of the Championship table, now just a point behind Reading after both sides have played 19 matches in their respective campaigns.
Familiar face to English football fans
The 43-year-old former Dutch international will be a familiar face to Welsh and English football fans, having played more than 300 times and scoring over 130 goals in the English leagues during a lengthy playing career. Besides enjoying prolific goal-scoring spells at both Leeds and Chelsea, he also contributed to the fortunes of Middlesbrough, Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City.
Hasselbaink has joined Rangers on a rolling contract, taking over from interim manager Neil Warnock. The erstwhile permanent boss at the west London club had been standing in since the sacking of Chris Ramsey on 4th November this year.
Warnock and Sinton back new man
Warnock was quick to suggest after their latest success that the side are capable of winning promotion to the promised land of the Premier League, with the aid of the Dutchman. As a word of warning to the new man he advised that he may find it difficult, but added that “he can be successful.”
Former Rangers’ player Andy Sinton tweeted his welcome to the new boss, calling him “a young, hungry manager” and by suggesting that “an exciting new chapter awaits #QPR.”
Hasselbaink couldn’t turn down new job
Jimmy Floyd had to think long and hard before walking away from his current post, stating that it had not been “an easy decision to leave Burton” but added that the move to QPR was “something I couldn’t turn down.”
