Luigi De Canio OUT as Rangers Manager

[QPR Kevin H]

http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1308493,00.html

This is not the sort of thing I was hoping for with the new regime :(

CLUB STATEMENT
Posted on: Thu 08 May 2008

Queens Park Rangers Football Club have parted company with First Team Coach Luigi De Canio by mutual consent with immediate effect.

The Club would like to place on the record its thanks to Luigi for his contribution to QPR and wish him all the best for a successful future.

Mr De Canio also wanted to express his gratitude for the opportunity to manage Queens Park Rangers and also for the fantastic experience he had during his time in England.

The Club will be making no further comment at this stage.

[Atouk]

I'm surprised. I can't see why they'd be unhappy with the way we ended the season. We were on a nice run. It seems more likely to me that they have someone with a higher profile that they want to bring in. Hope they make a hire soon.

I'm with you, though, Kev... I think we were all hoping for a bit more stability out of the new ownership.

[QPR Kevin H]

Could there actually be any chance of this rumor that's been floated around...?

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/05/08/SOCCER_QPR.html

However, speculation mounted only last week that former France World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane had been lined up as a possible replacement for De Canio.

[ross from st paul]

Does being really shocked by this make me hopelessly naive?
I don't read enough day to day stuff; has this (apart from the Zidane rumor) been building?

And if there is any traction to that rumor, does Zidane even have any managerial experience?
(or, cynically, does the Italian ownership think they owe him a bit after the '06 Final? :p (Don't get me wrong: I despise Materazzi.))

Lastly, what does "in due time" mean for a replacement announcement? Before transfer season begins, I'd hope.

Crap, now I'm panicking... :D

[Atouk]

Evening Standard: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-23483209-details/De+Canio+axed+by+Queens+Park+Rangers+after+six+months/article.do

"The latest development comes after a report at the weekend claimed former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane was being lined up to take over at Loftus Road."

Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3895554.ece

"However, speculation mounted only last week that Zinedine Zidane, the former France World Cup winner, had been lined up as a possible replacement for De Canio."

Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/08/qprdecanioleaves?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

"It had been reported last month that De Canio have been promised £10m to strengthen the squad further in the summer, however, recent rumours have suggested that a successor to De Canio was being sought; even Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the post."

[ross from st paul]

Evening Standard: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-23483209-details/De+Canio+axed+by+Queens+Park+Rangers+after+six+months/article.do

"The latest development comes after a report at the weekend claimed former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane was being lined up to take over at Loftus Road."

Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3895554.ece

"However, speculation mounted only last week that Zinedine Zidane, the former France World Cup winner, had been lined up as a possible replacement for De Canio."

Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/08/qprdecanioleaves?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

"It had been reported last month that De Canio have been promised £10m to strengthen the squad further in the summer, however, recent rumours have suggested that a successor to De Canio was being sought; even Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the post."

10MM to strengthen the squad?

Dang...and here Benitez is demanding 15MM for Peter Crouch*... :p




(* full disclosure: scorer of one of the only two goals I've ever seen R's score live, in the ground.)

[art]

What??

Hope Flav/Bernie/Gianni know what they're doing....

[Maczebus]

I'm with you, though, Kev... I think we were all hoping for a bit more stability out of the new ownership.

With the amount of Italian influence at the club you expected stability??

[QPR Kevin H]

With the amount of Italian influence at the club you expected stability??
Yep - that's a good point. Was saying the same thing to a friend after it happened. Guess we'll see how this turns out. I just don't see the logic of introducing a new manager to the team when they worked so hard to get things together last season. But, we also don't know Luigi's side of this.

[art]

But, we also don't know Luigi's side of this.

Or either side really. Did Luigi want to leave for personal reasons? Has the club lined up a "big name" replacement? Was there some sort of unrest we're not aware of with the squad? Were Flav/Bernie just not satisfied with the job LDC did?

Would be nice to actually know what happened. There have been/still are plenty of rumors suggesting just about everything.

One rumor I desperately hope is not true is that they got rid of LDC in order to replace him with Ian Dowie. Please god no.

[Atouk]

With the amount of Italian influence at the club you expected stability??Hoping for... that's different than expecting. :DOne rumor I desperately hope is not true is that they got rid of LDC in order to replace him with Ian Dowie. Please god no.That definitely seems to be the QPR supporters' concensus opinion about Dowie. :)

[QPR Kevin H]

Speculation in the Mail that homesickness might have been the main reason behind De Canio leaving...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=565033&in_page_id=1779&ito=newsnow

Italy is where the heart is for homesick former QPR boss De Canio
Last updated at 13:26pm on 9th May 2008

Luigi De Canio left Queens Park Rangers because he was desperate to return to Italy to be with his family.

His departure could see a return to Loftus Road for Iain Dowie, who is thought to be on the shortlist to succeed the Italian.

It is understood De Canio held a number of meetings with senior Rangers officials on Monday, less than 24 hours after the club ended the season against West Brom.

The 50-year-old, whose wife and daughter live in Italy, became homesick after losing his father in February and suffering a mugging shortly before the game with Preston in April.

[ross from st paul]

One rumor I desperately hope is not true is that they got rid of LDC in order to replace him with Ian Dowie. Please god no.
You and me both.

In fact, I'm sorry I even checked this forum...otherwise I'd be blissfully unaware! :p


With the amount of Italian influence at the club you expected stability??
Well put.


Uh...didn't Berlusconi just step down as AC President?

Oh, bloody ********ing hell... :D

[QPR Kevin H]

Not looking good for the non-fans of Dowie...

http://icealing.icnetwork.co.uk/sport/qpr/tm_headline=dowie-looks-set-to-take-over-at-loftus-road%26method=full%26objectid=20897017%26siteid=67372-name_page.html

Dowie looks set to take over at Loftus Road
May 12 2008

Former player is in pole position after Briatore backtracks over Italian preferences

By David McIntyre

IAIN Dowie has moved a step closer to taking over as QPR boss after Flavio Briatore agreed in principle to the appointment of a British manager.

Briatore, the club's co-owner, was previously keen to install an Italian and overlooked a number of applicants to hire Luigi De Canio last October after failing to secure his first choice; ex Palermo boss Franceso Guidolin.

De Canio's sudden departure has left Rangers looking for their fifth boss in the space of two-and-a-half years, and various problems encountered during his brief reign - such as language barriers - led to some board members favouring the appointment of a Brit this time around.

Dowie heads the list of British candidates, but his chances of landing the job depended on Briatore being convinced not to look abroad.

[Atouk]

Daily Mail: QPR set to unveil Dowie as new manager after holding lengthy talks with chairman Flavio Briatore in Dubai (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=566189&in_page_id=1779&ito=newsnow)

Queens Park Rangers are expected to announce Iain Dowie as their new manager tomorrow.

The 43-year-old is thought to have agreed a two-year deal to succeed Italian Luigi De Canio.

Dowie, who has managed Coventry, Charlton, Crystal Palace and Oldham, is likely to be given funds to strengthen the squad and is discussing the possibility of bringing in his own backroom staff.

Rangers chairman Flavio Briatore is believed to have been in lengthy discussions last weekend with Dowie, who has been in Dubai working for a TV station covering the final matches of the Premier League season.

The news came as Rangers agreed terms for two Premier League players, although they are not considered Dowie's first signings.

The club have announced the capture of Newcastle defender Peter Ramage and on-loan Tottenham goalkeeper Radek Cerny.

Ramage, 24, has agreed a three-year deal while 34-year-old Cerny, who is currently contracted to Slavia Prague, will sign a two-year deal.

The pair will formally become Rangers players on 1 July when their contracts run out and although the two signings were discussed with Dowie, moves had been made for the duo based on a list drawn up by sporting director Gianni Paladini and De Canio.

Club officials were keen to appoint an English-speaking boss after the language problems De Canio encountered in his six-month tenure at W12.

De Canio struggled to communicate with players as striker Patrick Agyemang told Standard Sport last week.

He said: "The only problem was the language barrier. He would be shouting in Italian but couldn't get his point across.

Dowie had a brief stint as caretaker boss at Rangers in 1998, taking charge in two matches and remaining unbeaten and his return to London may anger Palace chairman Simon Jordan.

Dowie left Palace by mutual consent in 2006 with Jordan believing he would leave the capital - only for him to be appointed Charlton boss eight days later.

Jordan won a High Court case over the issue, although Dowie has won the right to appeal.

Meanwhile, Rangers full-back Damien Delaney is celebrating his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the matches against Serbia and Colombia later this month.