Just another standard day at Loftus Road with Paulo Sousa’s assistant Bruno Oliveira sacked after just four months with the club, the manager denying he even knew Dexter Blackstock was leaving and Rowan Vine wondering just what he’s walked back into.
Oliveira, 30, was Sousa’s first appointment after taking over manager and was said to be an innovative and forward thinking coach with a talent for IT. Today, four months after his appointment, he had his contract terminated with the now usual QPR goodbye “contract terminated… no further comment at this time.”
QPR’s refusal to ever expand on their numerous sackings always leaves the door open to wild speculation and that has happened again today. Everything from the board attempting to force Sousa to resign so they don’t have to pay the compensation they would owe if they sacked him to this actually being a twisted vote of confidence in the boss as Oliveira has taken the fall for poor results and not him has been voiced across the message boards and websites today. Nobody knows for sure and as ever with QPR nobody is likely to be told any time soon – that’ll be £600 for a season ticket please.
Whatever the reasons Oliveira was clearly Sousa’s man, the pair in almost constant dialogue on the touchline during matches, and many are seeing this move as further weakening of the manager’s position. This despite Rangers actually being unbeaten in four matches. Sousa told the media after Saturday’s draw with Crystal Palace that he was not aware of the decision to allow Dexter Blackstock to leave for Nottingham Forest until after it had been made. Sousa also said that he didn’t understand the reasons behind his sending off during the Palace match for leaving the technical area to tend to injured striker Sam Di Carmine.
Sousa said: “"I gave the players two days off after the Bristol City game and when I came back Mr Paladini told me he had an agreement [for Blackstock] to go on loan. It is a decision for the board and only they can answer it. I'm not frustrated, I said from the first day I have to adapt and try to do my best with the players I have.
“I can't understand when a manager is looking out for his player, I care about my players and I went to see him, and I am sent to the stands," added Sousa. I said nothing to the referee, I was going to see my player. I think it was because I went out of my area."
Sousa’s opposite number Neil Warnock also gave his opinions to the media on Saturday about the way managers are treated at QPR, and the sending off of Sousa.
Warnock said: “Every club has their own way of dealing with things. I would imagine it is a permanent deal for Blackstock. Most people know what I would have done in that situation, but you don’t know what the terms were when he came to the club. I have sympathy for Paulo with him being sent off. The technical areas at QPR are very small. The ref was being fussy. Paulo was concerned about his lad and a more experienced official should have seen that. The referee should have just had a word with him. If Paulo goes before the league I will speak up for him if he wants me to - I know everyone at the commission quite well."
Striker Rowan Vine made his long awaited comeback at the weekend with a twenty minute cameo at the end of the goalless draw. Speaking afterwards the striker admitted he didn’t understand the decision to loan out Dexter Blackstock, but praised the QPR support for the welcome he received on his return.
Vine said: “I was surprised to see him leave. He’s our top goal scorer, whether he is fancied or not. There didn’t seem a lot of need to let him go. It doesn’t really make sense. He’s a striker who’s fit and has done well this season, and he can nick you the odd goal. But I’m happy to be involved, even at someone’s expense.
“I’m delighted to be back. It’s been a long hard struggle so it was nice to be back out there. It has been a long time coming but the fans have always been great. The reception was amazing and I’d like to thank each and every one of the Rangers fans for that.
“In my mind I just wanted to get back this season and I’ve done that, so now I’m just looking forward to the run in. I’m fully confident that when I’m fully fit I can make a big difference here and I’m already looking forward to the start of next season.”
All of this makes for great rumour mill material – Peterborough manager Darren Fergsuon, former Blackburn boss Paul Ince and probably the most unpopular name of all former Chelsea man Dennis Wise are the ones being touted as the next potential ring leader of our three ring circus in the gutter press.