As QPR prepare to complete a sixth week without a manager the names being linked with the job have reached a new low today as the national media tips Jim Magilton and Colin Calderwood as possibilities.

The Daily Mail, Evening Standard and The Sun all report today that former Ipswich manager Jim Magilton and former Forest gaffer Colin Calderwood are now favourites to replace Paulo Sousa. The Sun even goes so far as to say that Magilton has been interviewed at Loftus Road earlier this week.



As a trio of sources they hardly shine through as beacons of truth – The Mail links us with anybody whose unemployed often seeming to pluck names out of the air, The Standard reports that Magilton and Calderwood both worked on small budgets in their previous jobs despite one spending £12m at Ipswich and the other spending more than any other Championship club at Forest last summer. Nevertheless the quality of managers we are being linked with is noticeably declining in quality by the day and an appointment still seems to be some way off.



Magilton was sacked by Ipswich two games from the end of last season for failing to make the play offs for the third consecutive season despite extensive funds being made available for players. Calderwood was dismissed by Nottingham Forest at Christmas with the City Ground outfit languishing in the bottom three although he did previously get them, and Northampton Town, promoted.



Magilton in particular would be an absolute disaster in my opinion so here’s hoping this is simply the work of agents getting their clients’ names out there.



One thing definitely happening at HQ today is the signing of various new corporate deals. The club has confirmed new arrangements with caterers Azure and ticket firm Ticketmaster. The former is reportedly worth £7.5m over five years while the latter will see automatic turnstiles fitted to Loftus Road and fans issued with barcodes instead of season ticket booklets for next season.



CEO Ali Russell told the club’s official website: “We were inundated with interest for the new catering contract, but we believe we have made an excellent choice with Azure. This deal was the best one for QPR, both financially, and just as importantly, for the level of service on offer to our supporters. We were highly impressed with their innovative approach to public catering, as well as their ability to develop our executive offering, and maximise the usage of Loftus Road on non-matchdays.



“The board of directors is wholly committed to investing in all areas of the business and this agreement extension with Ticketmaster fits in line with their aims and objectives of improving our fans' experience. The introduction of AccessManager and TicketFast technology very much brings us in line with a number of the big clubs in this country, whilst also allowing us to move into the 21st century and be a huge benefit to our fans."




In former QPR news congratulations are in order for Adam Bolder, Marcus Bignot, Joe Gallen and Kenny Jackett who oversaw a famous aggregate play off win for Millwall at Leeds tonight. Millwall now await the winners of MK Dons v Scunthorpe tomorrow night for their first ever Wembley play off final.



Former QPR player and manager Gerry Francis has also been in the news today as he considers Stoke City’s offer of continuing his coaching role with them into next season. Francis has been a great success at The Britannia Stadium but has found traveling from his home down south tough and may yet look for opportunities elsewhere. How long before he is linked with a return to W12?



Elsewhere in the Championship today Steve Coppell has been speaking about his departure from Reading saying that he will allow himself a three month break before returning to management elsewhere. Clubs are also starting to release their lists of non-retained players with Steve Watson the headline casualty at Sheffield Wednesday, and eight leaving Ipswich Town including Ivan Campo, Tommy Miller, Billy Clarke and Matt Richards. A similar list is yet to be released by QPR although as we reported yesterday Liam Miller already seems to have moved on.

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