QPR urged to target ex-Wolves manager to replace Marti Cifuentes | OneFootball

FLW's QPR fan pundit has given his view on who he would like to replace Marti Cifuentes as head coach ahead of his expected departure.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Queens Park Rangers could soon be searching for a new manager amid increasing speculation that Marti Cifuentes is set to leave the club this summer.

Cifuentes made the move from Swedish side Hammarby to take over at Loftus Road in October 2023, and after impressively guiding QPR to what looked like an unlikely survival last season, his side are on course for a solid mid-table finish this campaign.

However, question marks over Cifuentes' future emerged last week when The Sun revealed that the Spaniard was considering handing in his resignation after growing frustrated with the direction of travel the club is heading in under CEO Christian Nourry.

Rumours of Cifuentes' potential exit gathered pace on Sunday after Sky Sports claimed that the 42-year-old's representatives have held talks with West Bromwich Albion over the vacant managerial position at The Hawthorns.

Speaking about his situation last week, Cifuentes, who only signed a new contract with the R's in September, revealed that discussions are set to take place with the hierarchy at the end of the season, and he stressed the importance of everyone at the club being aligned.

QPR told to make Gary O'Neil move amid Marti Cifuentes exit talk

When asked who he would like to see replace Cifuentes if he moves on this summer, FLW's QPR fan pundit Louis Moir said that former Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil should be the club's number one target.

"I think it's more of a when, not if, about Marti leaving, you can just see it happening," Louis said.

"Apparently he's had talks with West Brom, and you can see things moving quite quickly now.

"Obviously it means we will be looking for another manager.

"My number one pick would have to be Gary O'Neil, purely because he's a manager out there that we wouldn't have to pay for from another club.

"He's had Premier League experience with two clubs, and he's done well in parts at both Bournemouth and Wolves.

"He's obviously got that ex-QPR relation having played for us.

"He was part of the squad that got promoted at Wembley when Bobby Zamora scored against Derby, although he famously got sent off that day.

"I'm not really one to say they have to have some affiliation with the club, but O'Neil is more than that, he's clearly a very good manager, and he has a lot more to give because he's still relatively new into his managerial career.

"You're not going to be forking out a lot to poach a manager from another club, he's out of work, and I might be wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was looking at the Championship.

"Dropping down from the Premier League and trying to build something at a club and maybe getting a club promoted would do his CV wonders.

"He doesn't play bad football at all, I think it would align with what we want to continue at the club and not totally ripping up the style we have going.

"It would fit with the players we have as well.

"It might be a bit of a stretch or he might not fit what Christian Nourry wants as CEO, but I'd be on the phone to Gary O'Neil straight away.

"I just think it would fit well and it'd be an exciting one, he'd work at the club.

"There would be a connection with the fans, and I could see it going really well."

Gary O'Neil could be a gamble worth taking for QPR

As Louis says, O'Neil was part of the QPR squad that won promotion to the Premier League under Harry Redknapp in the 2013-14 season, so he would likely be welcomed back to Loftus Road with open arms.

O'Neil made an impressive start to his managerial career as he defied the odds to keep Bournemouth in the top flight in the 2022-23 campaign before being sacked at the end of the season, much to the surprise of the football world.

The 41-year-old made a swift return to management with Wolves, and while his first season at Molineux ended in a respectable 14th-placed finish, his second year in charge was a disaster, and he was sacked in December with the club sitting in the relegation zone.

The chaotic end to O'Neil's time in the Midlands may create some doubt in the minds of prospective employers, but he has certainly shown enough to suggest that he could be a success at Championship level, and he could be a shrewd choice for the R's.