Les Ferdinand has resigned as director of football at Queens Park Rangers, admitting he had to make some “very difficult decisions” while in post.
The QPR legend, who scored 90 goals in 184 games for the club, had been director of football since February 2015.
QPR supporters consider Ferdinand one of the club’s greatest-ever players, but he had become unpopular in his director of football post amid the club’s recent struggles.
QPR’s latest club records revealed they lose around £475,000 a week, and they avoided relegation to League One by six points despite sitting top of the Championship in late October.
Upon leaving, Ferdinand said: “This has not been an easy decision, but I do feel this is the right time for me to step down from my position here.
“There have been challenging times and I have had to make some very difficult decisions but every decision I have made has been with the best interests of the club at heart.”
Discussions surrounding his potential departure from his role as director of football had been taking place since the end of the season.
Ferdinand, 56, had to limit transfer spending in recent years to avoid the club falling foul of Financial Fair Play rules. This summer, QPR are expected to be frugal in the transfer window in order to balance the books.
Gareth Ainsworth was appointed manager in February on a three-and-a-half-year deal, and Ferdinand had made Ainsworth aware of the club’s financial situation — and the transfer budget limitations that followed as a result.
Lee Hoos, the club’s CEO, added: “Les’s knowledge of the club and his contacts within the game have been hugely beneficial to us.
“I am enormously grateful to him for all his assistance and support, and thank him wholeheartedly. He is a first-rate man.”
