• Premier League

QPR confirm appointment of Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp has returned to top-flight English football after QPR announced him as the successor to Mark Hughes on Saturday.

The former Tottenham manager has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal to take the reins at Loftus Road, with reports swirling that he has been offered a £1 million bonus if he can keep the side in the Premier League.

"I'm delighted to be back in the managerial hot-seat at QPR," Redknapp said. "When I spoke to the shareholders and they told me about their plans I knew this was too good an opportunity to turn down.

"There's no doubt there's a lot of ability in the squad, but for one reason or another things haven't gone as well as everyone expected since the start of the season.

"I can't wait to get to work and get the results necessary to kick-start our season."

QPR currently sit bottom of the league table, with just four points from their opening 12 games. They are the only side in top flight still looking for their first win.

Following the appointment, club chairman Tony Fernandes confirmed that the club only approached Redknapp after dispensing of Hughes's services on Friday.

"Harry was our number one target, the unanimous choice of the board and we're delighted we've been able to attract him to the club," Fernandes said. "He has a proven track record in the Premier League and has all the characteristics we were looking for to get us out of the current situation we find ourselves in.

"His man-management skills are second to none and we are confident he is the right man to lead us away from the bottom of the table.

"We believe we have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver our objectives."

Redknapp is already in Manchester to watch the side take on Manchester United at Old Trafford, although Hughes's former assistants Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki will take the side for the match - with Redknapp assuming full control from Sunday

Former Tottenham, West Ham and Portsmouth boss Redknapp has been out of work since leaving White Hart Lane in May.

He was strongly linked to replace Fabio Capello as England manager before the FA appointed Roy Hodgson. In recent times Redknapp was reportedly in discussions about becoming the new manager of Ukraine - negotiations that perhaps spurred QPR into action.

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