Newcastle United assistant Jason Tindall has already told QPR his stance on taking manager job

QPR have already been sent a clue as to how Newcastle United assistant Jason Tindall may respond if approached to take over from Marti Cifuentes at Loftus Road this summer.

The R’s have placed their head coach on ‘gardening leave’ after reports that his representatives had held talks with Championship rivals West Brom over the vacant managerial role at the Hawthorns. Cifuentes will not be in charge of the side against Sunderland on Saturday but has not been officially relieved of his duties as QPR head coach.

Nonetheless, a flurry of names have been touted as potential replacements for Cifuentes next season with QPR chief executive Christian Nourry describing the current situation as ‘disappointing’. Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil and ex Lyon man Pierre Sage have emerged as early frontrunners.

Jason Tindall linked with QPR job

Tindall is another name that has been linked over the last 48 hours. The 47-year-old continues to work as an assistant to Eddie Howe at St James’ Park but impressed when taking temporary charge of the Premier League club as his boss underwent treatment for pneumonia.

The Magpies beat Manchester United 4-1 and Crystal Palace 5-0 with Tindall in charge, as well as losing 4-1 to Aston Villa. Tindall has previously held a managerial role, when at AFC Bournemouth, and was asked if he would want to be number one again after those results.

He said: "That's never been my intention, it's not what I wanted at that time it was just with the circumstances the manager needed a break and work out what his next chapter should be so the opportunity came my way and it was one I couldn't turn down. It's certainly not something I've got in mind, I'm happy in my role and it's something I want to continue to do."

That would point towards Tindall being unlikely to have his head turned by the QPR job with Newcastle United having just won the Carabao Cup and booked a place in Europe next season. Our sister site NewcastleWorld adds that any prospect of Tindall heading to Loftus road appears ‘extremely unlikely’.

The assistant will not be on the touchline when Newcastle United face Brighton at the weekend, but that is not as a result of links to QPR. Tindall picked up a third yellow card of the season against Ipswich Town and has therefore received a one-match touchline ban.

Marti Cifuentes placed on ‘gardening leave’ by QPR

A club statement regarding the situation around Cifuentes was issued on Tuesday nigh. It read: “Marti Cifuentes has been placed on gardening leave. Assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis and prepare the squad for our final fixture of the 2024/25 campaign against Sunderland.”

Nourry also provided a statement and labelled the situation surrounding Cifuentes as ‘disappointing’. He said: “This is naturally a disappointing situation for everyone concerned. I fully understand and appreciate supporters’ frustrations at this time. As a club, we are working to ensure this matter is resolved as swiftly as possible so we can start preparations in earnest for the future.”

Speaking after the 5-0 defeat to Burnley last weekend, Cifuentes had pledged his commitment to QPR. He said: “I said before that as long as I’m wanted, I’m very happy.

“In any case I am very calm about the job I have done and the fact that we have achieved what were difficult targets. I’m an ambitious person in the sense that I always push myself. I always want to improve. I have a contract and I want to keep improving. I enjoy my job here, enjoy English football, and am ready for more.”

In other news, QPR axe Marti Cifuentes after 'disappointing' links with West Brom and Norwich City.