• Premier League

Redknapp reveals QPR rifts over money

ESPN staff
April 28, 2013
Harry Redknapp believes some player resent the wages of the club's top earners © Getty Images
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Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has revealed his dressing room has been split by rifts over wages in recent months, with the high earners at the club unsettling those on more modest pay packets.

Redknapp's revelations go some way to explaining why he has struggled to breathe life into QPR's relegation battle after succeeding Mark Hughes as manager in November.

January transfer window signings Chris Samba and Loic Remy added to a hefty wage bill at Loftus Road, and Redknapp has hinted that the top earners have not always seen eye-to-eye with some of their team-mates.

"It's always a problem trying to heal a rift, it is not easy and I would be lying if I said there were not splits in the camp," Redknapp said. "That has been obvious for everyone to see all year. It is hard to know who speaks to who. I just take them out on the training ground.

"I haven't had this too much anywhere else but when we came it was obvious there was a problem. It is difficult with players earning differently. People don't mind others getting good money if they earn it, but is that the case.

"It is not a problem if you are playing with Robin van Persie or Steven Gerrard and they are getting £130,000 or £140,000 a week because you don't mind if the players are worth it. The problem is if players look at another and think 'he ain't that good' so it's not been easy."

Redknapp has confirmed he is willing to continue as QPR boss in the Championship next season so long as he is working with players who have "a good character", but he fears the club may struggle to offload some of their biggest earners even though they look set to dip back into the second tier of English football.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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