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Queens Park Rangers are going to have to look for a new manager once again as Marti Cifuentes edges closer to a move away.
The R’s announced on Tuesday that Cifuentes had been placed on gardening leave and that assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm would be in charge for the final fixture of the season against Sunderland this weekend.
In a statement on the club’s website, CEO Christian Nourry said it was “a disappointing situation for everyone concerned” after the Spaniard looked set for the West Bromwich Albion job, only for reports to confirm that Cifuentes isn’t on West Brom’s shortlist.
It’s a case of history repeating itself for the QPR manager after he suggested he was receiving a lack of support from the hierarchy, like he did in his previous role at Hammarby.
With QPR now likely to be gearing up to find a replacement, EFL Analysis takes a look at five names who could become the next manager.
Richie Wellens – Leyton Orient
Richie Wellens is doing a remarkable job in League One with Leyton Orient and his availability could be decided by their own end-of-season fate.
Orient are in the play-off hunt and currently occupy the last spot with one game to go. It’s an incredible achievement for a side that wasn’t tipped to be challenging for promotion at any point. Wellens is young, but knows how to win. He has two League Two titles and an EFL Trophy in his trophy cabinet.
Punching above his weight is what he does best and he could have the R’s looking upwards rather than over their shoulder again.
Urs Fischer – Without a club
A name that not many may be familiar with, but Urs Fischer was the brain behind Union Berlin’s rise to the Bundesliga.
On a lower budget in comparison to their divisional rivals, Fischer oversaw more than 200 matches in charge of Union Berlin and even took them to the Champions League.
He’s been out of work since November 2023 so could be keen to jump in and prove his credentials once again by attempting to take QPR back to the Premier League.
Miron Muslic – Plymouth Argyle
Expect Miron Muslic to be a man in demand this summer. Muslic was heart-broken to admit Plymouth Argyle are down with a game to go, but that doesn’t take away from his work.
The Plymouth boss said he’d have kept them up if he’d been at the helm all season and he was right. There are plenty of clubs who could for him, but Plymouth to QPR would be considered a solid step.
He’d have players running through brick walls and would be a popular figure.
Oscar Garcia – Without a club
Fans of Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion will know of Oscar Garcia well. He impressed with Brighton, falling just short of promotion after being knocked out in the play-off semi-finals.
His time at Vicarage Road was cut short due to injury, but the Spanish coach has plenyty of experience globally. Managing across the world means he is likely to have a strong contacts book and could even unearth some hidden gems to bring to the club.
Leighton Baines – Everton, Assistant manager
Leighton Baines has earned plenty of praise for his work with the Everton youth teams and was subsequently appointed as David Moyes’ assistant manager on the latter’s return to the Toffees.
It would be his first senior job in management and a huge risk but, what’s life without a few big calls along the way?
It would also present a great opportunity for QPR to take some of Everton’s young talent on and give them vital first-team minutes, whilst also helping the west London club climb up the table.