'Price to pay' - Club chief sends clear message to QPR over managerial links

QPR’s manager search continues, much to the frustration of supporters who have been waiting on progress for weeks. The Hoops placed Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave after he flirted with the West Brom job, a job he did not wind up getting. Ryan Mason ultimately left Tottenham to take over the head coach position with the Baggies.

It was hoped QPR could take a step forward under Cifuentes in the coming season, but they won’t get that chance, now needing to start again with a new boss. Who that boss will be remains to be season, and a number of managers have been linked, including recent Norwich City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, who no longer looks like a likely option.

One of the latest to be linked is Randers - that’s Randers with a ‘D’ - boss Rasmus Bertelsen. According to reports in Denmark, Bertelsen is an option for the Hoops, but the appointment would come with a price tag.

Tipsbladet have been speaking to Randers chief Søren Pedersen about the situation, and he has said: “I think it’s positive, but I also know, because I’m in close dialogue with Rasmus, that he’s happy to be here and we’re happy for him, he’s a big part of the very ambitious and exciting project we have going on. Our strategy is to continue that development, and Rasmus is definitely part of that.”

On the links, he added: “I haven’t heard anything about it, so I don’t know anything about it. There hasn’t been anything on my desk in any case.”

Pedersen went on to make it clear that QPR will have to pay if they want to appoint Bertelsen, adding: “Just like our players, there’s a price to pay if you need to bring in our talented employees, and that also applies to a coach.

“If it happens [bid comes in], I see it as something positive. We have a long agreement with Rasmus and know that he’s happy at Randers. So, if something is to happen, it must be extraordinary. If that happens, we’ll find a solution, there are other talented coaches out there.”

Bertelsen has a contract up to the summer of 2026, so the compensation would not be huge. He penned a two-year contract when he took over having previously been an assistant and a caretaker boss in the spring of 2023.

The 41-year-old boss is said to prefer a 4-4-2 formation and he led Randers to a fourth place finish in the most recent Danish Superliga finish.

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