Pundit makes QPR 'need' claim as Leeds United make 'unprecedented' decision

QPR and Millwall will already be hard at work preparing for this weekend after picking up a point against each other last weekend. The Hoops face fast-starting Blackburn Rovers away from home this weekend, while Millwall take on Preston at The Den.

West Brom and Sunderland currently lead the Championship, with Burnley and Blackburn not fat behind. Here we round up all the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding the second tier clubs.

Parker’s Cifuentes concern

Former QPR defender Paul Parker is concerned that Marti Cifuentes could be snapped up by another club amid his positive work at Loftus Road. He told Football League World: “Absolutely. You have seen some managers move around lately, some make a positive impact where they go and some not so much. For QPR, they now need stability in a head coach and Marti looks to have the good foundations to build a team to compete well in this division.”

“Defensively QPR have improved on last year. It’s so important to have a good defensive foundation and this can help the team move forward. They aren’t conceding many goals, so if they can look to score more goals, then this can help gain more wins. They have drawn a couple of games and now need to turn draws into wins. It’s an improving team so expect the coach to find a way for the team to score more.”

Leeds make stadium decision

Leeds United have confirmed they will expand Elland Road by 15,000 seats to take its capacity up to 53,000. The Whites will carry out the work over an extended period to limit any disruption, but once done, the stadium will get UEFA’ highest rating - category four.

Once complete, the stadium will be the seventh-largest club stadium in the country. Leeds chairman Paraag Marath has said: “We recognise how important Elland Road is to the Leeds United fans and the wider community. The opportunity to refresh a century-old stadium, coupled with the legacy of Leeds United, is unprecedented.

“Our plans reinforce our commitment to the long-term success of the club and I am excited that we are going to be able to welcome thousands more supporters to every game, in a stadium that retains the unique atmosphere of Elland Road.”

Palmer on Stoke

Carlton Palmer has torn into Stoke City amid talk that they were planning the sacking of Steven Schumacher back in the summer ahead of pulling the trigger recently. “There's news coming out in the media that Stoke City planned Steven Schumacher's exit months ago," Palmer told Football League World.

"I don't really get that, he was only five games into the new season and if they had planned his exit months ago, as is reported, then why keep him at the club and why not sack him at the end of the season or before the summer, bring in the manager you want and allow him to bring in the players he would have wanted?

"So again, this tells me a lot about what's going on at the football club. If you said you were planning an exit then obviously the manager wasn't or couldn't have been involved in the recruitment of players coming to the club because that doesn't make sense. Then you let him go the whole of pre-season, why would you do that and start the season? The manager they've appointed was at Norwich so they could've taken him in the summer.

"I don't know whether we can take any credence from that [the reports] because it doesn't make any sense that you would keep the manager in the summer, let him bring in players and then fire him so early into the season. It's crazy to me, irrespective of how well the manager does I still think it's the wrong situation. I think they should've stuck with Schumacher and given him some time, it was a difficult situation he inherited. There has to be some stability, there has to be continuity and there has to be time and patience.”