Queens Park Rangers: How QPR Can Learn from Previously-Relegated Clubs By Emma Booth (Featured Columnist) on April 23, 2013 The fight has well and truly ended for Queens Park Rangers. Bookmakers are taking no more bets on whether they will be relegated, because let's face it, that would just be giving money away. The two year foray into the dizzy heights of England's top flight has not been all that entertaining for Rangers' fans. With the exception of two victories against rivals Chelsea, and the great escape of 2011/12 which was only made reality by Stoke's Jonathon Walters, QPR are headed back to the Championship. But how can they learn from previously relegated clubs? If you take a look five of the teams who have dropped down a level in the last few years, there are some whom have simply fallen into mid table, second division anonymity. Well, actually, there are a lot. Birmingham, Watford, Derby County, Middlesbrough, Burnley and Blackpool to name but a few, have all faded into Championship mediocrity. But there are some teams who did all the right things, and some who did all the wrong things after their relegation party came to a sombre end. So what can QPR learn from these teams, and how can they set themselves to emulate some, and not replicate others? Read on to find out. The fight has well and truly ended for Queens Park Rangers. Bookmakers are taking no more bets on whether they will be relegated, because let's face it, that would just be giving money away. The two year foray into the dizzy heights of England's top flight has not been all that entertaining for Rangers' fans. With the exception of two victories against rivals Chelsea, and the great escape of 2011/12 which was only made reality by Stoke'sJonathon Walters, QPR are headed back to the Championship. But how can they learn from previously relegated clubs? If you take a look five of the teams who have dropped down a level in the last few years, there are some whom have simply fallen into mid table, second division anonymity. Well, actually, there are a lot. Birmingham, Watford, Derby County, Middlesbrough, Burnley and Blackpool to name but a few, have all faded into Championship mediocrity. But there are some teams who did all the right things, and some who did all the wrong things after their relegation party came to a sombre end. So what can QPR learn from these teams, and how can they set themselves to emulate some, and not replicate others? Read on to find out. All tables, fixtures and results taken from BBC. All statistics taken from Soccerbase. Don't Do a Blackburn: Stabilize Blackburn Rovers are one of the most recent clubs to taste the bitterness of relegation, and they did so in an even worse style than QPR. With the club's owners destroying the once Premier League Champions, their transfer policy, backroom decisions and managerial choices left the fans wondering what had happened to their club. Behind the scenes, the boardroom was wiped out. Sam Allardyce was sacked only to be replaced by a man who had never managed before, and the side from the North West slid desperately towards the second tier of English football. Now currently sat in 20th place in the Championship, just two points off another relegation zone, their slide could continue spiraling downwards. Having already had four managers this season, stability is obviously not a word that owner Venky's has heard of. And if QPR don't want to follow quickly in their footsteps, they will need to maintain a sensible head next year when it comes to the manager, and the players. Do Do a West Brom: Bounce Back West Bromwich Albion are the most recent holders of the Yo-Yo trophy, having been relegated three times, and promoted four times in 10 seasons. However this season has seen the Baggies excel in the Premier League through Steve Clarke, currently sitting in 8th place. Their Great Escape in 2004/05 was quickly followed by relegation the next year; something which QPR fans can relate to. However the squad regrouped and within two years found themselves sat atop the Championship, prepared to attack the Premier League once more. Of course, in standard West Brom style, they were relegated to following season. But they finally seem to have found their Premier League feet, and after treading much water are able to jump in with the big boys and hold their own. If QPR want to return to the Premier League and compete at the other end of the table for a change, they may have to bide their time, and accept that a constant to-and-fro may have to be withstood for the next few seasons. But if they attack the Championship properly, Rangers could find themselves back in the EPL very soon. And then probably back in the Championship again. Don't Do a Charlton: Avoid Successive Relegations Charlton Athletic managed a more lengthy stay in the top flight than QPR or WBA, but their fall took them all the way down to League One after finishing bottom of the Championship in their second season. A draw at home to Blackpool in April 2009 confirmed Charlton's fate as they dropped into the third tier of English football. This, only five years after narrowly missing out on a European qualifying spot. And it was this game which proves to many football fans, how quickly things can change. When relegated, the Addicks manager Phil Parkinson told the BBC: This club has had low moments before and has come back, and it will do so again...It's not about me, it's about Charlton Football Club - a fantastic club which has been relegated but will come back strongly. He was right by all accounts, as the side currently sit in 9th place in the Championship. However the dramatic downfall of the club in such a short time is something QPR fans will be dreading. Charlton managed to stop the rot just in time, but as Bradford City and Oldhan Athletic will tell you, sometimes it isn't all that easy. Do Do a West Ham: Achieve Quick Promotion It took West Ham United just 371 days after their relegation to gain promotion back to the Premier League after beating Blackpool in the playoff final. The club kept hold of the backbone of their team; including Rob Green, Carlton Cole and Gary O'Neil, as well as making some shrewd signings such as Kevin Nolan, John Carew and Guy Demel (via transfermarkt.co.uk). This team was not just built to gain promotion, but a number of the players are still essential to Sam Allardyce's Premier League plan. If QPR want to follow suit and climb back into the EPL in one season, they too will need to find players whom are Championship quality, but with the potential for more. And 'Arry is well known for his quality negotiating; finding star players for minimal fees. Except for maybe this year. Don't Do a Portsmouth: Avoid Administration And finally, the Portsmouth comparison rears it's head again. Of all the Premier League teams relegated in the past 10 years; Pompey have had the worst time of it, and their free-fall continued at the weekend after dropping into the fourth tier of English football without even kicking a ball. Docked more points than the Penske NASCAR racing team, Portsmouth have been in administration twice since February 2010, had some not fit nor proper owners, and have slid through three leagues in four seasons. The Pompey conundrum is the worst possible outcome of Rangers' relegation. But with pay slips stacked high, and debts mounting on top, it was take some astute business acumen from Tony Fernandes to keep the club afloat. Portsmouth fans have just bought out their own club. But QPR fans will be hoping they won't have to do the same thing; as nobody wants to foot Jose Bosingwa's wage bill.
West Brom seemed to find it quite easy to get promotion again, they had faith in the squad that was relegated from the premiership and did not worry about buying or selling many players.
kiwi, I believe how we start the season is all important If we get off to a good start I think the players will be up for it and show the team spirit needed If we are halfway down the league I think the players will be more interested in their wages or moving on to another club
So in summary, we should not get relegated again but get promoted instead. How dies this woman have a job?
No, its worrying that Beard said they are all staying, they wont have the fight for the NPC so were more likely to be relegated again than go up unless something drastically changes.
Shouldn't effect you Flyer .... I thought you was giving up. We are down so it's just a case of supporting the team to bounce back ... which if we keep this squad we will do. IMO
I have given up, I'll go to the last two home games but I'm not renewing or going to any games until there's a complete change of attitude. They don't deserve our money.
I would expect you to finish top and am glad we are promoted out of your way. As soon as you win a few games you just get on with it, you did fine the last time you played championship football. Hopefully we can stay up and welcome you back the following season. One thing about the QPR ride. it is never boring. jck
I would expect you to finish top and am glad we are promoted out of your way. As soon as you win a few games you just get on with it, you did fine the last time you played championship football. Hopefully we can stay up and welcome you back the following season. One thing about the QPR ride. it is never boring. jck
I would expect you to finish top and am glad we are promoted out of your way. As soon as you win a few games you just get on with it, you did fine the last time you played championship football. Hopefully we can stay up and welcome you back the following season. One thing about the QPR ride. it is never boring. jck
It's a good job there aren't too many fans like you flyer, or the club would be non existent. Your attitude suits the likes of the big clubs, then you don't have to cry so much. Disgraceful attitude.
It's a good job there aren't too many fans like you flyer, or the club would be non existent. Your attitude suits the likes of the big clubs, then you don't have to cry so much. Disgraceful attitude.
The only disgraceful attitude is that of the players, Im not going to be a mug and give my money to them.
Disappointing article. Was hoping for a bit of well considered insight into following in the foot steps of West Brom and West Ham who Emma mentioned - and Newcastle, who she didn't. All we get though is what we all know already: retain a size-able portion of your prem squad. Don't do what all the others did and fragment - and the greater the fragmentation the more likely we disappear through the NPC trapdoor into the nether regions of the FL. Whilst we're also aware of the importance of Fernandes' role in staying put and applying the conclusions of lessons learned, his continued commitment to 'the project' suggests any comparison with Pompey is ill-founded. What I was hoping for in this article was some indication of how the current squad is likely to transform itself from the doldrums of a losing culture into the free-scoring NPC winners we're all so desperate to see. More's the point (and has to be said) 'Arry's record of management glory over 30 years (below) doesn't look like he's the man to orchestrate that and bring us back up. 1983â84 Football League Trophy Winners (Bournemouth) 1986â87 Division Three Winners (Bournemouth) 1999 Intertoto Cup Winners (West Ham) 2002â03 League 1 Winners (Portsmouth) 2007â08 FA Cup Winners (Portsmouth) Trying times ahead even if we remain 'stable' is all I can see atm...
