Championship - QPR sack Dowie

Eurosport - Sat, 25 Oct 08:41:00 2008

QPR have sacked manager Iain Dowie just 12 games into the Championship season.

FOOTBALL QPR Queens Park Rangers Iain Dowie - 0

The 43-year-old, who only took over from previous boss Luigi de Canio in May, leaves Loftus Road with the West London club lying ninth in the table.

Veteran winger Gareth Ainsworth has been placed in caretaker charge ahead of Saturday's trip to Reading.

A club statement read: "The board of Queens Park Rangers Football Club has terminated the contract of manager Iain Dowie with immediate effect."

Dowie took charge of just 15 games in all competitions - exactly the same number as during his ill-fated spell at Charlton two years ago.

The former Northern Ireland striker guided Rangers into the last 16 of the Carling Cup, where they face a trip to Manchester United after knocking out Aston Villa in the third round.

His last game in charge was a goalless draw at Swansea on Tuesday night, where the opposition played for more than an hour with defender Alan Tate in goal.

Rangers were among the pre-season promotion favourites, bankrolled by Formula One bosses Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone and Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal.

But their only victory in their last six games was a nervy 2-1 success over bottom side Nottingham Forest.

Dowie was also reported to have clashed with Briatore over the club's transfer policy earlier this season, with the likes of 34-year-old ex-Italy midfielder Damiano Tommasi brought in on a one-year contract but yet to make an appearance.

Briatore's contacts are also thought to have secured the signings of Daniel Parejo, on loan from Real Madrid, and Emmanuel Ledesma from Fiorentina, but neither have been in the starting line-up recently.

Former Internazionale boss Roberto Mancini has already been linked with the role.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 25 - 44 of 44

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  1. "I bet Aidy Boothroyd got a message on his phone today! WATCH OUT
    " Fri 24 Oct

    Boothroyd calls it a day - next call QPR?

    From I, on Mon 3 Nov 10:13PM

  2. just another example of richboys destroying football. they should stick to motor racing where success can be bought

    From Robert T, on Sun 26 Oct 10:00PM

  3. im glad dowies gone he aint got the balls when it comes being at a great club like q.p.r mancini is the man 4 the top. i said it wont work with dowie. and the numty who said about tottenham you got rednapp that is all tottenham can get ha ha.

    From ALAN, on Sun 26 Oct 6:00PM

  4. I HATE PALACE AND MILLWALL ( CAFC )

    From samsmith34@..., on Sat 25 Oct 1:40AM

  5. ian dowie has not got a clue he might do all right in the conference, i have my doubts as 4 managing newcastle coco the clown could do better with all them jesters in the boardroom

    From lordlatty, on Sat 25 Oct 12:48AM

  6. as a palace fan(yes I hate Charlton & brighton!) I always have some grudging affection for 'old ugly' and what he did for us and how he turned the team round...didn't help that he defected to Charlton, shame he didn't ruin them more! wish him well with whatever he now does, managing/tv etc don't forget he has 'bouncebackability'!! (is he is the british version of Jol!?)

    From jon, on Fri 24 Oct 11:46PM

  7. I think the writing was on the wall so to speak when Dowie was only given a two year contract to begin with Its unfair to judge him after only 15 games in charge but i seem to recall Britore preaching patience in getting Rangers back into the premier league a 2 to 3 year job??somehow i dont think you sign sponsorship agreements with Lotto and Gulf air without the promise of premiership football somehow also didnt Britore make the statement along the lines of "Spending his own money his way?"The sacking is also great timing just before two top flight games in a row?Another Italian manageron the way ???? Rascal

    From mark.friel@..., on Fri 24 Oct 11:01PM

  8. I bet Aidy Boothroyd got a message on his phone today! WATCH OUT

    From I, on Fri 24 Oct 10:06PM

  9. I told you when he was appointed. He would not be there very long. If he got them promoted they would have sacked him and found a more high profile manager, and if he did not get them into an early promotion position he would get sacked. Can't believe anyone thought otherwise

    From POTTER, on Fri 24 Oct 9:01PM

  10. Dowie hasn't done anything wrong.The seasons only started and for QPR 9th place in the table isn't too bad

    From justinbowie1, on Fri 24 Oct 8:35PM

  11. I am a Man City Fan and i think it looks like QPR have already got a man waiting to take his place and i would not be surprised to see being Terry Venables. Football is not longer the working mans game, but now all about money etc, which will always force clubs to sack their managers long before they have had a chance to prove themselves.....

    From tonyjoe79, on Fri 24 Oct 7:56PM

  12. Listen football fans! Mr Dowie is one of those managers who should be inducted into the 'Bookend Hall of Fame'. People like Peter Reid, Brian Robson, Terry Butcher, Graeme Souness and all those other ex players who think they can win trophies, but just end up winning P45's instead. Dowie, like the rest is hapless, he should not be allowed to be a manager! Being a pundit or on Gillette Super Saturday Sky Football is more their forte. Get real Mr Dowie and the rest, look up failure in the Oxford English!

    From Veteran, on Fri 24 Oct 7:01PM

  13. Good news for once. This dowie guy always a sleazy opportunist. Next day he will get a job

    From oluwaseun a, on Fri 24 Oct 6:57PM

  14. No surprise when the mega-money men run a club and want instant success. Dowies style of play was too ugly and his signings were no of teh calibre. The QPR board are equally to blame for making the appointment in the first place. With their money QPR can afford to appoint a top coach, but will they - or can they now attract one - if the board/owners react too quickly when success is not immediate?

    From Allen H, on Fri 24 Oct 6:39PM

  15. Ha Ha Now Briatore thinks he is a potential premiership Manager :-) No danger of anything important happening at Loftus Road except relegation then :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Fri 24 Oct 6:38PM

  16. Not a surprise. They may be 9th in the league but were playing ugly football. Good luck Gareth, keep the seat warm until Terry Venables agrees to return !

    From steve_r_rose, on Fri 24 Oct 5:53PM

  17. He is not likely to win anything if the Idiots who fund the club only give the manager 12 games. Good God!!!!

    From Simon B, on Fri 24 Oct 5:11PM

  18. What has Dowie ever won? He doesn't last in any job as it becomes clear early on that he is excellent at interviews!!!!

    From darren, on Fri 24 Oct 5:02PM

  19. darren c: face it QPR are a div 2 club. Dowie is better than that.

    From Simon B, on Fri 24 Oct 4:54PM

  20. For me they should give more time, I thought that they were not just going to buy big with all the billions they have like some of the other clubs as you know. and that they were going to climb to the heights of the premiership slowly.. SHAME IF THIS IS NOT THE CASE.

    From jason b, on Fri 24 Oct 4:51PM
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