Post by QPR Report on Sept 28, 2009 6:31:10 GMT
25 Years...: Ray Harford resigns as QPR manager after a terrible year in charge. Ian Dowie - rather than Vinnie Jones - took over as caretaker manager. Two weeks later, Gerry Francis was appointed QPR manager. Ray Harford went on to coach elsewhere, before sadly, dying, only in his later fifties, in August, 2003. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Harford
QPR Official Site, September 28, 1998 - RAY HARFORD STEPS DOWN
Queens Park Rangers FC announced on Monday morning the resignation of Manager Ray Harford following the team's 4-1 defeat at Oxford United on Saturday. Ray felt that at this difficult time it was in the Club's best interests he should step down.
The Club has appointed player/coach Iain Dowie, who has also been managing the unbeaten Reserve Team, as Caretaker Manager. Dowie will be in charge of the team for tomorrow's game at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and for next Saturday's home match against Grimsby Town.
The Board intend to advertise the position of manager and will be hoping to interview a short lisst of candidates over the next two weeks. An appointment will be made in due course.
In the probability of the home game against Ipswich Town on 11th October being postponed due to International duties, the Board will endeavour to have a manager in place by the following game away to Huddersfield town (17th October).
The Board gave careful consideration to appointing Player/Assistant Manager Vinnie Jones as Manager. The Board decided that it was in the best interests of the Club to formulate a short list of candidates for the position of Manager who will be interviewed in due course. Vinnie will be considered as part of this process.
A further announcement will be made in due course.
QPR Official Site - September 28th 1998 - HARFORD'S FURIOUS LAST WORDS
RAY HARFORD certainly didn't mince his words after his last game in charge at Oxford United.
Ray said:"I thought the performance was pathetic. Without doubt, it was the worst performance I've ever been associated with. It was rank poor in the first half and when we went 2-0 down it was deplorable. There was a lack of heart. It is no coincidence that we've gone a year without winning away from home. I feel awful and very ashamed for the supporters. I've tried different shapes, different methods, different systems and it still hasn't worked. I'm running out of ideas now."
The Independent - September 29,1998 - by Alan Nixon - Harford resigns as QPR manager
Ray Harford yesterday resigned as manager of troubled Queen's Park Rangers and brought his unhappy reign to an end within in a year.
Harford left after thinking over his future at the weekend following a humbling 4-1 defeat at Oxford United.
Coach at Blackburn Rovers when they won the title, Harford has had considerable problems at Rangers where he feels that he has been denied transfer funds. The signing of Vinnie Jones was made over his head and lately the fans have turned against the manager and his struggling team. A compensation figure has yet to be agreed, but rather than wait to haggle Harford has decided to leave.
Harford's chance of being given an escape route to Newcastle United disappeared when Kenny Dalglish was sacked a month ago.
Harford, who left West Bromwich Albion in the middle of last season to join the QPR, has achieved only one victory with the Loftus Road side in nine games this season. The club, second from bottom in the First Division, have appointed Iain Dowie, the Northern Ireland international striker, as caretaker manager. A statement from the club said: "Ray felt at this difficult time it was in the club's best interests he should step down." The Independent
QPR Official Site - September 28, 1998 - DOWIE ON NEW POST
IAIN DOWIE has outlined his hopes for his role as caretaker boss at Rangers. He wants 100% commitment from the players as he aims to improve fortunes on the field of play.
Iain says:"It's a lovely opportunity for me, but it's tinged with sadness because Ray Harford has decided to step down. Ray spoke to me and wished me all the best, telling me to grab the opportunity with both hands.
"And that's what I intend to do. I've always wanted to be a football manager. I'd like to get the players here playing here with a smile on their faces. No disrespect to Ray, but the players here need to realise that they need to perform to a much higher level. I certainly won't accept the standard of Saturday's performance at Oxford. I want us to play with a lot more enthusiasm, passion and pride in the shirt. The first thing I said to the players today was that we must have pride in QPR, because it is a very big club.
"I 'll accept people making honest mistakes, but I won't accept a lack of effort, a lack of commitment to Queens Park Rangers, and a lack of self-belief in wanting to pass the ball. This club has got fanatical supporters and we have got to give those fans some passion on the pitch that they can respond to.
"It's a case of getting into good habits, building confidence and cajoling. That's my job. I think one of my strengths is that I can man-manage, so the players will understand exactly what I expect them to do.
"I will set Premeirship standards on the training field and around the club. So hopefully we can start performing to those standards."
Team for Harford's last game in charge: Oxford 4 QPR 1 -
QPR: Harper, Heinola (Scully 53), Baraclough, Yates, Ready, Maddix, Slade, Peacock, Kulcsar (Sheron 70), Gallen, Murray (Rose 63). Scully
Oxford Utd: Whitehead, Robinson, Marsh, Gray, Whelan (Murphy 55), Gilchrist, Powell, Smith (Hill 81), Thomson, Windass (Cook 83), Beauchamp. Goals: Beauchamp 15, Murphy 64, Thomson 72, Windass 75. -
Sporting Life - Oxford 4 QPR 1
Oxford put the 7-0 shocker at Sunderland behind them with their best performance of the season at the Manor Ground to destroy QPR who suffered their fifth consecutive away defeat.
Because of a lengthy injury list United had to field the same team that lost so heavily at the Stadium of Light last week and they were too skilful for the Londoners from the start.
Record signing Dean Windass went close after six minutes with a spectacular volley on the turn which just cleared the crossbar. It was created by Joey Beauchamp who went one better 15 minutes later with his first goal of the season.
He found full-back Simon Marsh in space in the penalty area and his firmly hit shot was too hot for goalkeeper Lee Harper to hold and Beauchamp netted from the rebound.
Oxford peppered Rangers' goal but they had to wait until the 64th minute for the second which Harper gifted to them.
He hit a clearance against Andy Thomson and the ball ran to substitute Matt Murphy who rolled it into an empty net from 30 yards.
Rangers could not contain the home side whose other two goals came in a three-minute spell.
Paul Powell put Marsh through on the left and his inch-perfect cross was sidefooted in by Thomson for number three and Windass completed the rout with the best goal of the match.
Powell and Murphy opened the visitors' defence for Windass to cut in from the right and sidefoot past Harper into the far corner of the net.
Rangers substitute Tony Scully netted a consolation goal a minute from the end.
Att: 7,489
www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/qpr/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/98/09/26/SOCCER_Oxford_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=qpr&DIV=nat1&TEAM=QPR&RH=QPR&PREV_SEASON=1997
QPR Official Site - September 28, 1998 - DOWIE ON NEW POST
IAIN DOWIE has outlined his hopes for his role as caretaker boss at Rangers. He wants 100% commitment from the players as he aims to improve fortunes on the field of play.
Iain says:"It's a lovely opportunity for me, but it's tinged with sadness because Ray Harford has decided to step down. Ray spoke to me and wished me all the best, telling me to grab the opportunity with both hands.
"And that's what I intend to do. I've always wanted to be a football manager. I'd like to get the players here playing here with a smile on their faces. No disrespect to Ray, but the players here need to realise that they need to perform to a much higher level. I certainly won't accept the standard of Saturday's performance at Oxford. I want us to play with a lot more enthusiasm, passion and pride in the shirt. The first thing I said to the players today was that we must have pride in QPR, because it is a very big club.
"I 'll accept people making honest mistakes, but I won't accept a lack of effort, a lack of commitment to Queens Park Rangers, and a lack of self-belief in wanting to pass the ball. This club has got fanatical supporters and we have got to give those fans some passion on the pitch that they can respond to.
"It's a case of getting into good habits, building confidence and cajoling. That's my job. I think one of my strengths is that I can man-manage, so the players will understand exactly what I expect them to do.
"I will set Premeirship standards on the training field and around the club. So hopefully we can start performing to those standards."
Team for Harford's last game in charge: Oxford 4 QPR 1 -
QPR: Harper, Heinola (Scully 53), Baraclough, Yates, Ready, Maddix, Slade, Peacock, Kulcsar (Sheron 70), Gallen, Murray (Rose 63). Scully
Oxford Utd: Whitehead, Robinson, Marsh, Gray, Whelan (Murphy 55), Gilchrist, Powell, Smith (Hill 81), Thomson, Windass (Cook 83), Beauchamp. Goals: Beauchamp 15, Murphy 64, Thomson 72, Windass 75. -
Sporting Life - Oxford 4 QPR 1
Oxford put the 7-0 shocker at Sunderland behind them with their best performance of the season at the Manor Ground to destroy QPR who suffered their fifth consecutive away defeat.
Because of a lengthy injury list United had to field the same team that lost so heavily at the Stadium of Light last week and they were too skilful for the Londoners from the start.
Record signing Dean Windass went close after six minutes with a spectacular volley on the turn which just cleared the crossbar. It was created by Joey Beauchamp who went one better 15 minutes later with his first goal of the season.
He found full-back Simon Marsh in space in the penalty area and his firmly hit shot was too hot for goalkeeper Lee Harper to hold and Beauchamp netted from the rebound.
Oxford peppered Rangers' goal but they had to wait until the 64th minute for the second which Harper gifted to them.
He hit a clearance against Andy Thomson and the ball ran to substitute Matt Murphy who rolled it into an empty net from 30 yards.
Rangers could not contain the home side whose other two goals came in a three-minute spell.
Paul Powell put Marsh through on the left and his inch-perfect cross was sidefooted in by Thomson for number three and Windass completed the rout with the best goal of the match.
Powell and Murphy opened the visitors' defence for Windass to cut in from the right and sidefoot past Harper into the far corner of the net.
Rangers substitute Tony Scully netted a consolation goal a minute from the end.
Att: 7,489
www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/qpr/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/98/09/26/SOCCER_Oxford_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=qpr&DIV=nat1&TEAM=QPR&RH=QPR&PREV_SEASON=1997
