Damion Stewarts' gaffer at QPR just got fired

[DweetSweet]

Queens Park Rangers are at the bottom of the Championship (England Division 2). Just got schooled by West Borm 5-1, and the manager John Gregory has paid the price. QPR's defence with Stew Peas at center back have been leaking goals since the start of the season. Time to turn this ship around with a new boss Stew Peas!

[Tilla]

VIALLI IN WAITING AS GREGORY IS SACKED




SHOWN THE DOOR: Gregory's reign at QPR is over


Tuesday October 2,2007

By Simon Yeend

Queen’s Park Rangers fans may not be happy about it, but the bookmakers have made Gianluca Vialli the favourite to replace manager John Gregory, who was sacked yesterday.

Vialli was successful at QPR’s local rivals Chelsea – winning five trophies in three years, but was a huge flop lower down the football food chain at Watford.

He spent a fortune on players and guided them to the giddy heights of 14th in the First Division before he was sacked 12 months into a three-year contract – almost bankrupting them in the process.

But QPR are about to be taken over by Formula One tycoons Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, who are keen for a high-profile manager.

Vialli is a friend of Briatore and was even in the Loftus Road directors’ box for last week’s 1-1 draw with Watford, as a guest of the Italian.

He dampened down speculation then linking him with Gregory’s job saying: “It’s not my style to put myself forward for jobs by showing up at the games of other managers who might be having a difficult time. In fact, I don’t like it, I think it is disrespectful to the manager in charge. This is especially true with an experienced colleague and friend like John Gregory. I plan on watching again as Flavio’s guest, but nothing more.”

Now Gregory is no longer there. He was sacked yesterday after the 5-1 thumping at West Brom on Sunday that left QPR bottom of the Championship with just three draws from their first seven games. That would leave Vialli with a clear conscience and a clear path to take over.

First team coach Mick Harford will take charge for tomorrow’s game at Colchester, his former club.

Chairman Gianni Paladini said Harford would also be at the helm for the home games against Norwich on Saturday and Ipswich on October 20. Gregory had not expected his sacking, said Paladini, but the imminent takeover had increased the pressure.

“People have invested a lot of money in the club,” said Paladini. “Football is cruel, but when you are losing games, it is not a good situation. I am friends with John, so it is sad, but I always say it is not me who sacks managers. It is the results that get them sacked.

“John was surprised to be sacked, but the results are there for all to see. The game at West Brom was shown live all over the world.

“It was my decision to sack John. It was a hard one to make, but the prospective new owners back me. They want success. At the moment Mick is in charge of the team, and he has the chance to stake a claim for the job full-time.”
Ecclestone and Briatore are expected to formally complete their takeover at a meeting at Loftus Road on November 5.

Harford said Gregory had given him his verbal backing after Paladini had offered him the caretaker-manager’s post.

Harford, who was brought in by Gregory in the summer, said: “I spoke to John. He told me to go for it and to look after the club.

“It is a shame because he is a good man and a good manager, who put a good infrastructure in place.

“It is a good opportunity for me, albeit in difficult circumstances. The players were surprised, because John was a great character, and they liked him a lot.”