Queens Park Rangers confirm Gareth Ainsworth appointment

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 21 February 2023

QPR confirm Gareth Ainsworth appointment

Queens Park Rangers confirm that Gareth Ainsworth has ended his long-term association with Wycombe Wanderers to become the club's new head coach.

Queens Park Rangers have announced that Gareth Ainsworth has been appointed as the club's new head coach.

When Michael Beale departed Loftus Road for Rangers earlier in the season, club officials had hoped that Neil Critchley would keep the Hoops in contention for the Championship playoffs.

Instead, the former Blackpool boss recorded just one win from 12 matches in all competitions before his departure on Sunday, QPR now down in 17th position and just eight points above bottom spot in the standings.

With a rare free midweek, it left QPR to try to secure a fresh face for the dugout before Saturday's home fixture with Blackburn Rovers.

The West London outfit have achieved that target by reuniting with Ainsworth, a former QPR player and someone who spent time in caretaker charge of the club at the beginning of his coaching career.

Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth pictured in February 2021 © Reuters

Ainsworth has since made his name during a legendary stint at Wycombe Wanderers, taking the team from League Two to a maiden Championship campaign in 2020-21.

The 49-year-old had been in the role since 2012, recording 219 wins and 194 defeats from 550 matches in charge at Adams Park.

Although Wycombe currently sit just three points adrift of the League One playoffs, Ainsworth has opted to make his return to QPR, a club that he acknowledges is "special" to him.

Speaking to the club's official website, Ainsworth said: "This is all a little bit surreal. It has been a whirlwind two days and leaving Wycombe Wanderers was very tough because of the connection there.

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— QPR FC (@QPR) February 21, 2023

"But this is QPR and when I spoke about something special forcing me away from Wycombe, this was pretty special. It's the club where I was most known for playing and you get moments in your career that resonate with you forever.

"I loved my time here as a player and hopefully I can go on and love my time here as a manager as well."

Ainsworth represented QPR between 2003 and 2010, scoring a total of 22 goals from his 152 appearances in all competitions.

During two previous caretaker spells in charge, he posted three wins and two draws from his 11 matches.