And in the world of QPR: On This Day in 2001
20 Years ago today: Gerry Francis REALLY gives up managing QPR as the club lost 5-0 at Wimbledon Miklosco
Perry Plummer Ready Rose Darlington
Kulscar, Wardley, Peacock
Crouch Kiwomya
Subs: Harper, Ngone, Connolly, Morrow, Baraclough
And playing for Wimbledon: Agyemang!(+Ainsworth)
+ BBC Match Report -
news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1185650.stmQPR Official Site - Feb 24, 2001-
GERRY FRANCIS' last game in charge of Queens Park Rangers ended in another heavy defeat as his team went down to a Wimbledon side
who showed no ill-affects from their midweek cup exertions to ease past his beleaguered players.
Francis stuck with the team that beat Gillingham in midweek but they were simply blown away by the Dons in a performance
which sees them slump back towards the relegation zone after two encouraging victories in a week.
The opening half was a fairly even affair with both sides having opportunities to opening the scoring.
Stuart Wardley had the best opportunity to give Rangers the lead when he pounced on a goalmouth melee on 13 minutes from Jermaine
Darlington's corner, but his well-struck shot was brilliantly saved by Kelvin Davis in the Wimbledon goal.
Minutes later, Jason Euell had a great chance for the Dons when he turned well on the edge of the 18-yard box
but his effort was tipped wide by Ludek Miklosko.
Rangers, who took one of the largest away followings to Selhurst Park this season with over 3,500 making the journey to south London,
found themselves 1-0 down four minutes before the break after a Neal Ardley free-kick was met by the unmarked Mark Williams who turned the ball past Miklosko.
The second-half was only seven minutes old when the Dons doubled their advantage through Marcus Gayle who had the freedom of Selhurst Park
to control a Patrick Agyemang cross before burying the ball past Miklosko.
That goal knocked all the stuffing out of Rangers and with Gareth Ainsworth causing all sorts of problems with his pace Wimbledon
simply outclassed the visitors as they upped the tempo.
Ten minutes after Gayle's strike things went from bad to worse for Rangers as Jason Euell capitalised on Miklosko's fumbled to prod the ball home from three yards.
One of the worst things about Wimbledon home games is the shocking music they play after every goal they score.
Until recently they had the worst home record of any team in the country but against Rangers they had a field day and added their fourth and fifth
to cue more ridiculous music thanks to Williams and Euell each grabbing their second goal of the game.
Monday is the day that the new Rangers boss is set to be unveiled and on after this performance he will have a massive job on
if he is going to stop Rangers dropping out of the First Division.
DAVIS MIKLOSKO
KIMBLE PERRY
WILLIAMS DARLINGTON
HAWKINS PLUMMER
CUNNINGHAM ROSE
ANDERSEN READY
GAYLE KULSCAR
AGYEMANG
WARDLEY
EUELL PEACOCK
ARDLEY CROUCH
KIWOMYA
Subs: Subs:
HEALD HARPER
HOLLOWAY NGONGE
WILLMOTT CONNOLLY
HUNT MORROW
GRAY BARACLOUGH
And his Earlier Resignation AnnouncementFlashback: February 16, 2001 - 15 Years ago... Since Gerry Francis Resigned as QPR Manager (for the second time) -
15 years ago today, Gerry Francis announced he was resigning as manager of QPR (for the second time). Francis then remained in charge of the team, on for a couple more weeks. During which time, Ian Holloway took over.
BBC - Friday, 16 February, 2001 - Francis ends QPR love affair
Francis: Ended his managerial love affair with QPRBBC Sport Online's Peter Sanderson looks at Gerry Francis' career in management after his decision to stand down as director of football at QPR.
Gerry Francis is a member of that increasingly rare band of people who have enjoyed success at a club as both player and manager.
On Friday, however, the former Bristol Rovers and Tottenham boss cut a forlorn figure as he ended his managerial love affair with Queens Park Rangers and almost certainly severed his ties with football.
Apart from his most recent spell at QPR, Francis has an outstanding record in management.
However, at Loftus Road this year, the tide was so strongly against him that even sailing sensation Ellen MacArthur could not have steered the club to safety.
Gerry Francis The secret to his success has been a combination of talent, honesty, endeavour and an unrivalled desire to succeed.
But even a man as diligent as Francis deserves a break.
He admitted: "In football, I have only had one break since 1967 which is a hell of a long time.
"I did not miss the game in the 11 months I had away from football after I left Spurs and I don't think I will when I move on at the end of the season.
"My job at QPR was to keep them in this Division last year and I did that despite us being nine points adrift.
"I then let my heart rule my head and decided to stay on as manager this year.
Francis: "QPR can stay up""But the club is now experiencing major problems with a number of players contracts coming to a close in the summer and very little cash to bring anyone in.
"It is time for someone else to take over. They need time to turn things round and I need time to spend with my family and of course with the pigeons."
Few would believe this was the same man who twice turned down the opportunity to manage his country.
Both times he was interviewed for the England he ruled himself out of consideration.
But England could have done a lot worse - and, once or twice in recent years, have done.
Now Francis can devote his time to his family and enjoy the peace and quiet of his pigeon loft.
The reason for his departure is simple. He is a family man and his recent spell with QPR was more of an effort to help out an old friend than improve his already dazzling reputation in management.
But it was clear from the pained expression on Francis' face that he has had enough football for one lifetime.
As he spoke of the troubled times the club are experiencing, he was speaking from his heart as a fan and not a manager.
Francis was arguably a victim of his own managerial success.
Needed more than a miracle
The former England midfielder always possessed an unwavering confidence in his own ability.
However, he built up such an impressive CV at Bristol Rovers and QPR that he could no longer continue to perform the miracles.
But QPR needed more than a miracle to save them this time.
Their troubles far exceed their lowly position at the foot of Division One.
Behind the scenes the club are in disarray.
Their over-achievements in the 1990s, when they finished fifth in the Premiership and enjoyed as spell as London's top club, make their current position even harder to tolerate.
Young bargains
But Francis insists the club can still survive.
Since he returned in October 1998, he has made a number of strong signings for QPR, scouring the non-league for Jermaine Darlington and Stuart Wardley.
He has also picked up young bargains like Clarke Carlisle and Peter Crouch and groomed Richard Langley and Mark Perry into tremendous players.
These are the players that Francis believes should keep QPR in the First Division and more importantly, keep the club in business. Bbc
QPR Official Site - February 16, 2001
CLUB STATEMENTWe have known that Gerry Francis was considering retirement at the end of this season when his contract expires and this week he confirmed to the QPR Board that this was the case.
Following discussions with Gerry it was mutually agreed that it was important to install a new manager now in order to plan for next season, particularly with regard to existing players' contracts and any incoming players. The new manager when appointed will immediately assume responsibility for the First team and will obviously focus on doing everything possible to ensure that QPR do not get relegated this season.
Gerry has been asked to remain with QPR until his contract expires and will work with the new manager on planning for next season, including such issues as our Academy situation and our Scouting network.
The Board would like to go on record as publicly thanking Gerry for the job he has performed over the last two years in very difficult circumstances, keeping QPR up in the first year and finishing tenth last season. His commitment to the club is second to none and we feel that he has made a major contribution in trying to turn the club around. He has been offered a place on the Club Board next year should he wish to take it up.
Discussions with candidates for the manager's job have already started and the Board hopes to be in a position to make an announcement as soon as possible. In the meantime, Gerry Francis will be in charge for the match against Barnsley and we hope he leaves the job with the win the club needs.
And then the managerial Search
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/42557/post-francis-qpr-managerial-search
