Ex QPR star gives damning verdict of club and CEO after players sold to Bristol City and Birmingham City

Former QPR goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has given a damning verdict of the club's summer transfer business as the London outfit struggles in the Championship this term.

The 37-year-old was first choice between the sticks at Loftus Road last term and played an important part in the relegation dogfight under Marti Cifuentes. Begovic was full of love for the club and its supporters as he talked on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast but appeared to land a dig at those higher in the club and CEO Christian Nourry.

Begovic, who left the club at the end of his one-year contract this summer and joined Everton, said: "We had a tough start but knew we had the characters to get on a run and turn it around. The new manager came and he put it all together for us. We had a really unbelievable second half of the season from the day he took over.

"We were thinking, if we can keep this solid core together with the manager we can kick on. Obviously, the CEO and people in the club had different ideas. They manage budgets and wanted people to take certain contracts which lads didn't want to take.

"They thought they could get better for cheaper and that's why a few of the lads left. If you look at the team in the second half of the season to now, a lot of change. So many players have left and it's going to take a bit of time for them all to gel together once again."

The goalkeeper didn't name any particular players but it won't be hard for fans to guess which transfers Begovic was referring to. The promising Sinclair Armstrong was sold to Bristol City for a reported £2.5 million and the experienced Lyndon Dykes signed for League One outfit Birmingham City for £1 million, while Chris Willock left for Cardiff City at the end of his contract.

The R's did invest in the summer, splashing cash on FC Lugano forward Zan Celar, KVC Westerlo midfielder Nicolas Masden and Jonathan Varane for Sporting Gijon. However, the new arrivals have taken time to adjust to the Championship with QPR struggling for results this season.

Begovic: QPR is an ‘incredible’ club

Speaking with praise for the club, the former Chelsea goalkeeper added: "It was a really good fit for me. QPR gave me the opportunity and I was really honest about it. They wanted to bring a few more experienced players in to build that culture. It's been a tough few years for QPR, which is incredible.

"They have a great fan base and incredible location, just a really nice history of a club. It's a really good club to play for but they have been struggling and wanted to bring a few senior players in to try and change that."