Following the news of Gareth Ainsworth’s sacking on Saturday evening, Queens Park Rangers have turned their attention towards former Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest head coach Sabri Lamouchi.
Ainsworth was walking a tightrope at Loftus Road. Last week, after a 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town, journalist Darren Witcoop reported that the ex-Wycombe Wanderers head coach would be given three games to save his job.
These three matches were against West Bromwich Albion away, Leicester City at home and Rotherham United away. QPR already lost the first two matches and the board decided to pull the trigger before this weekend’s trip to the Millers.
Queens Park Rangers released a statement last night, confirming that the decision to relieve Ainsworth of his duties was results-based:
“Making a call such as this is never easy, and it is even more difficult when you have such respect on both a personal and professional level for the individuals concerned.
“Unfortunately, results this season haven’t gone the way we all wanted and we feel a change is necessary.”
With the Hoops set to face Rotherham in just six days, QPR’s board have already begun the process of finding his ideal successor. According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, the club are keen to bring former boss Neil Warnock back.
Warnock left Huddersfield Town in September but the 74-year-old opted not to retire and could make a shocking return to the London club over the coming days.
However, Crook also reported that QPR have held talks with the ex-Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest manager Sabri Lamouchi who guided the former to safety last season but was not handed a new deal at the end of the campaign.
Lamouchi has managed twice in the Championship and held a 35.6 percent win rate during his two stints across both clubs.
Writer’s View
Lamouchi guided Forest to seventh place in his first season, although they spent the majority of this campaign inside the playoffs. Results tailed off rapidly in the end and Lamouchi was dismissed.
However, his time at Cardiff City can be deemed a success. The French coach guided the Bluebirds to safety in the Championship but was not handed a new deal at the end of the campaign. Nevertheless, one man’s loss is another man’s gain and QPR could benefit from his availability.
