Ex-QPR Assistant manager, Bruce Rioch Turns 72 Born September 6, 1947.
-See Rioch/Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_RiochFlashback:
(From QPR Report Compilation of QPR Managerial Hiring and Axing Statements!)
STUART HOUSTON (AND BRUCE RIOCH)
QPR Official Site - November 10, 1997 - BOARD RELEASE HOUSTON AND RIOCHBOSS Stewart Houston and Assistant Manager Bruce Rioch have parted company with Queens Park Rangers, after a board meeting at Loftus Road on Monday night.
A statement issued by the club read:
"Following a meeting of the Board of QPR, at which Stuart Houston was present, the club has reluctantly decided to release both Stuart Houston and Bruce Rioch.
A caretaker manager will be appointed in the interim period."
Chairman Chris Wright will issue a full statement following the AGM of Loftus Road plc tomorrow afternoon. The excusive interview will be available on this site from around 6pm GMT.
QPR Official Site - November 11, 1997 - THE WRIGHT WAY FORWARDCHRIS WRIGHT revealed today that fan power had necessitated the removal of Stewart Houston and Bruce Rioch as the managerial team at Loftus Road
As John Hollins was installed as caretaker boss, the chairman insisted he would not be rushed into finding immediate replacements.
" I did feel it was important that Stewart carried the body of the fans with him, we had taken six points from 24 and the feeling was we were not moving in the right direction."
" I know that Stewart never really endeared himself to the fans, he didn't see that as part of his job and I felt Stewart was struggling to carry support with him."
" I wanted to give him until the end of the year, but I felt it was better to make a clean break."
Turning his attention to the fuure and the installation of the new man at the helm, Wright revealed.
" I don't want to lurch from one manager to another. I want to go into this feeling, this is the best man, rather than getting in someone tomorrow afternoon."
" It could be days, weeks, months or even the end of the season."
" Twelve months ago we felt we were a Premiership Club who would be promoted. We gave players contracts thinking we would be back in 12 months time. The reality is now we are a Division One club. To get out of this division is now a priority and we're looking for a manager capable of getting us well equipped to survive and then getting us out of the division."
" We want someone who knows about the Nationwide League and its players, who will bring the best ones to QPR to get us into the Premier League."
As the Rangers supremo laid out his plans, he apologised to Bruce Rioch over the way he had found out about his dismissal, on Ceefax rather than having been informed directly.
" Stewart was to inform Bruce. I don't know why Stewart took a little longer than we anticipated to contact him. I'm genuinely sorry Bruce found out the way he did."
Having aligned himself with popular opinion in making the managerial change, Chris made a personal plea to R's supporters to get back and stand full square behind John Hollins and the team saying.
" This is your club. It's up to you to get behind your team. You've been quiet at home, now show everybody how much you feel for the club. I know your opinions, we've acted on them, now get behind us again."
qprreportblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/flashback-qpr-managerial-hirings-and.htmlTelegraph
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/9212562/End-of-an-era-for-armchair-fans-and-sportsmen-as-number-is-finally-up-for-Ceefax.htmlAfter all, everybody has a Ceefax story to tell. Bruce Rioch certainly does – it was there that he found out that he had been sacked as assistant manager of QPR in 1997.
“I was at home watching the Louise Woodward case on television when I turned on Ceefax and read that I had been sacked,” he said.
