The backroom staff ................
Meet Steve McClaren's new-look backroom staff as QPR prepare for the Championship season
QPR are being put through their paces at a warm-weather training camp in Portugal as they look to get in shape for the new season.
By
Phil Spencer
QPR
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QPR are being put through their paces at a warm-weather training camp in Portugal as they look to get in shape for the new season.
Following Ian Holloway's departure, there's a whole host of new faces in the Hoops coaching set-up as manager Steve McClaren looks to take the young talent at the club to the next level.
But what do we know about the key figures in the new backroom team at Loftus Road?
Steve McClaren (manager)
The new QPR boss has a particularly impressive CV.
After doing coaches roles at Derby County and Manchester United, McClaren took his first management role with Middlesbrough where he won the club's first trophy in 128 years, before guiding the team to their best Premier League finish and a place in the then UEFA Cup final.
He's since won the Eredivisie title with FC Twente while also having spells with England, Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Wolfsburg and Newcastle United.
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Les Ferdinand (director of football)
Ferdinand had an illustrious playing career as he represented QPR, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham among others.
Now 51, the former striker now leads the club's recruitment efforts, handling both the incoming and outgoing deals at the club.
Garry Penrice (Chief scout)
Penrice is another staff member who enjoyed a playing career at Loftus Road.
As well as the Hoops, he played for Bristol Rovers, Aston Villa and Watford before making the move into management, where he was Ian Holloway's number two at both Bristol Rovers and QPR.
Since then, Penrice has held a range of role in scouting and recruitment for Plymouth Argyle, Leicester City and Stoke City before returning to Loftus Road as a recruitment consultant in May 2017.
John Eustace (assistant manager)
The former midfielder enjoyed a successful playing career with clubs including Coventry City, Stoke City, Watford and Derby County - where he featured under Steve McClaren.
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Regarded by many as a model pro, Eustace retired early due to injury and took his first management role with National League side Kidderminster Harriers, leading them to two successive play-off finishes in his two years in charge.
He'll now be hoping to learn from McClaren as he uses his own management experience to help QPR.
Matt Gardiner (assistant coach)
Gardiner enjoyed a playing career at non-league level before turning his attentions towards coaching.
After being part of the management team at Worcester City, the 44-year-old moved to Kidderminster Harriers as the Head of Coaching, where he worked alongside QPR number two, John Eustace.
Gardiner developed something of a reputation for identifying and developing talent from non-league football - something that he'll be hoping to replicate at Loftus Road.
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Gavin Ward (goalkeeping coach)
A former Premier League goalkeeper, Ward made his name playing for clubs such as Aston Villa, Leicester City, Cardiff and Stoke City.
He moved into coaching with a role at Shrewbury Town, before moving to Nottingham Forest as the goalkeeping coach.
Ward joined QPR from Burton Albion after the appointment of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and has gone on to do tremendous work in the coaching and development of Alex Smithies, Matt Ingram, Joe Lumley and Seny Dieng.
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Chris Ramsey (head of coaching)
After a playing career with Brighton, Swindon Town and Southend, Ramsey moved into coaching in the Maltese Premier League before taking on the role of Regional Director of Coaching for the FA.
Ramsey went on to coach the England under-20 team, before becoming a scout for senior England manager Kevin Keegan.
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Following a spell in the USA, Ramsey was appointed Head of Player Development at Tottenham Hotspur where he stayed for 10 years before joining QPR as Head of Player Development and Academy manager.
Ramsey took on the role of caretaker manager after the departure of Harry Redknapp, before being appointed full-time manager after QPR's relegation to the Championship.
After a spell with Spurs under Tim Sherwood, Ramsey returned to the Hoops at technical director in January 2016 - a role which has evolved to see him oversee coaching at the club from youth and junior level right the way through to the senior team.
