EFL expert on three major Sunderland hurdles to appoint QPR head coach

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes put in a sterling shift at Loftus Road over the back half of the Championship season last term, keeping the London outfit in the second tier. The Catalan's efforts did not go unnoticed by rivals.

Cifuentes has been linked with the vacant role at Championship rivals Sunderland this summer with the Wearside club still in the market for a permanent appointment following the sacking of Michael Beale in February.

The Black Cats finished the season with Mike Dodds as interim head coach, placing a disappointing 16th having made it to the play-off stage at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. The club are now working to find a new permanent manager but are yet to confirm an appointment as the transfer window and pre-season preparations edge nearer and nearer.

After Cifuentes' heroics last season, it's no surprise to see that he is one of the names linked with the role. The 41-year-old remains one of the favourites with Liam Rosenior and Rene Maric also touted as likely candidates.

However, former Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday star Carlton Palmer has explained why he doesn't believe that is a likely appointment. The EFL expert told Football League World of three key hurdles - compensation, staff and a lack of say ove players.

He explained: “I can’t see this happening. First of all, compensation will have to be paid.

“I can’t see Sunderland paying compensation, I can’t see QPR allowing Cifuentes to leave the football club, and I can’t believe that Cifuentes would want to leave the football club given what he achieved last season in keeping QPR in the league last season.

“QPR will want to keep him, obviously there is a problem financially in terms of players, and what he’s allowed to bring in. But like I’ve said before, the Sunderland job appears to be a difficult situation for anybody to step into."

Palmer went on to add that even if interested, Cifuentes could be deterred by not being able to bring his staff into the role. The pundit said: “From what is coming out of the football club, is that you’re not allowed to bring into your coaching staff, you’re allowed to bring in one person and then you’ve got to work within the realms of how they want to run the football club.

“This is their choice, their policy, of bringing in young players in, not really signing senior players and the control that’s taken away from the manager."

Cifuentes has previously confronted talk of interest in the job himself, speaking to the press towards the end of last season. In April, he said: "I think if we believe everything we see on social media, it's going to be a long night. No, I have nothing to say. I'm very focused on tonight's game and enjoying that."