Former Napoli boss Luigi de Canio has been appointed first-team coach of Championship club Queens Park Rangers, with caretaker manager Mick Harford leaving Loftus Road.

QPR, which was taken over by Formula One bosses Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone recently, offered Harford a role within the new set-up, but the former Rotherham manager turned it down.

"I am very excited at this fantastic opportunity to join Queens Park Rangers as their first-team coach," he told the west London club's website.

"It will be an honour to work for Queens Park Rangers, a club which is backed by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, two businessmen with an incredible track-record of success in sport and other fields.

"I would like to thank them and tell them I will not disappoint their expectations. I am fully committed to the project and I am looking forward to getting to work with the players in preparation for our forthcoming home fixture against Hull City on Saturday."

Hoops chairman Gianni Paladini said that the appointment signalled the first step in the restructuring of QPR.

"The club is going through a phase of total restructuring and for us the appointment of Luigi De Canio is the first important step ahead in our long-term strategy," he said.

"De Canio is a highly motivated professional whose dynamic and aggressive approach fits perfectly with the image and philosophy of the new management.

"De Canio is fully aware of the high standards and objectives that the new management has set for the future of the club, and he is ready and eager to take up the challenge."

Previous boss John Gregory left in October and Harford took the reigns with a possible bid from the F1 partnership hanging over the club.

However he has now opted to leave.

"We offered Mick a role within the new set-up and we're disappointed that he has turned this down," Paladini added.

"He has done a fantastic job since he arrived here in the summer and his contribution will never be forgotten.

"We all wish him the very best for the future."

QPR are second-to-bottom of the Championship table despite an impressive 1-0 victory at London rivals Charlton at the weekend.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport