Queens Park Rangers chief executive Lee Hoos has shed light on manager Mark Warburton's future.
Reports from some outlets last weekend suggested Rangers were on the verge of axing Warburton. The reports emerged following the 2-0 loss to local rivals Fulham - a result which stretched their poor run of form to one win in six. But Warburton remained in situ and even oversaw Tuesday's 1-0 reversal away at Sheffield United. That was a fourth straight defeat for Rangers, who are ninth in the Championship table and five points shy of the play-offs.
Despite the speculation, Hoos has now suggested that Warburton's situation could go one of three ways this summer. The 59-year-old arrived at QPR back in May 2019.
Hoos told the Evening Standard : “Mark came out after someone asked directly does his contract end (this summer). It's not quite that simple. There are three avenues that we could go down. One which would be the contract ends this summer and we shake hands and say, ‘Let's everybody just take a step back and take a deep breath and figure out where we're going to go’. Secondly the contract ends, and we renegotiate another contract, and we continue on, or he hits certain trigger points in the contract, in which case is automatically renewed."
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Hoos did not specify what those trigger points were but said: "(If it is triggered) we will have had a very good end to the season. The fans have always been behind us. One thing I never forget (about football), is that it is about venting. The whole thing is about venting. When it goes well it is fantastic and it goes great, but when it does not you just want to get it out. I do it just as much as the next man, I just can't do it publicly - my wife has to bear the brunt of that.
“I am in the same boat, so is Mark Warburton and Les (Ferdinand). There is a level of frustration. I mean everybody needs to remember this team is good. Players, you guys are good. Just reconnect with that, don't overthink it, just go out and do what comes naturally.”
Warburton takes his side to Preston on Saturday knowing defeat could prove fatal for his side's top-six chances.
Speaking after the Bramall Lane loss midweek, he said: "We never tested their keeper in the way we wanted. And we conceded an awful set-piece goal. The second half was much better but we lacked that bit of guile you need to open them up. They're well organised with a formidable home record and we've still got to play these boys again. But there's still 18 points on the table. Everyone will drop points and take points off each other. We have to stick together and prepare for Preston on Saturday."
