QPR need a new manager and MK Dons are readying themselves for an approach from the Championship outfit for highly-rated tactician Liam Manning, according to the Evening Standard.
A former West Ham United U23 coach, Manning’s debut season in the EFL could hardly have gone much better.
The 36-year-old had big boots to fill when he replaced Russell Martin at Stadium MK one game into the 2021/22 campaign, his task made that little bit harder by the departures of Lee Nicholls, Matthew Sorinola and Cameron Jerome, plus Matt O’Riley’s January switch to Celtic.
And while MK Dons would eventually miss out on a trip to Wembley – defeated by Wycombe Wanderers in the play-off semi-finals – the fact that they were still in with a very real chance of promotion in early May is a testament to the job Manning has done in his first ever season of senior management on English soil.
According to talkSPORT, Queens Park Rangers are making Manning one of the leading contenders to succeed Mark Warburton at Loftus Road.
Will Liam Manning be QPR’s new manager?
“I see it as a compliment. Whether there’s any truth in it I don’t know. I’ve not heard anything,” 36-year-old Manning, over two decades Warburton’s junior, said last week when asked about QPR’s interest.
With MK Dons’ promotion hopes going up in smoke, QPR are reportedly set to step up their pursuit of a man one year younger than Rangers shot-stopper Kieran Westwood.
“I think Liam’s done a great job with them,” Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore tells YorkshireLive.
“They’ve been free-flowing, consistent, energised by some terrific play.”
According to the Standard, MK Dons are bracing themselves for an approach. Recently-relegated Watford are also admirers of Manning but they confirmed the appointment of another highly-rated 30-something on Wednesday.
Rob Edwards, after guiding Forest Green Rovers to the League Two title, will replace veteran Roy Hodgson in the Vicarage Road dugout.
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QPR eventually finished a promising 2021/22 campaign in dismal fashion, sitting just two points above the bottom half. The addition of Tosin Kehinde from Danish outfit Randers would ease the creative burden on Ilias Chair and Chris Willock.
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