Ex Norwich City boss confirms QPR talks as released Charlton Athletic man joins PFA training - round-up
Johannes Hoff Thorup was a frontrunner to replace Marti Cifuentes at QPR at one point this summer.
Former Norwich City manager Johannes Hoff Thorup has opened up on conversations had with QPR over the head coach vacancy this summer ahead of the departure of Marti Cifuentes.
The R’s put Cifuentes on gardening leave before the final match of the Championship season following reports that the 43-year-old’s representatives had held talks with West Brom over a new job. Cifuentes left Loftus Road by mutual agreement at the end of June and has since been appointed at Leicester City.
Former Rennes boss Julien Stephan has taken the hot seat at QPR since then but there were several frontrunners to land the role before the Frenchman. Those included Ryan Mason, Gary O’Neil and Pierre Sage.
Johannes Hoff Thorup on QPR talks
Another rumoured name was Thorup, who was sacked by Norwich City after failing to make the play-offs in April. The 36-year-old was said to have had talks with QPR over the Loftus Road job and he has now confirmed that. He told the Second Tier Podcast: "It's fair to say that there were conversations.
"The guys that I spoke to at QPR were really open-minded and have a lot of good ideas. The way they are structuring the club both for now and the future is kind of the same way that I think a club should go.
"Eventually we couldn't agree on a couple of things. The contract was a part of it, and that's probably what I can say. It was also important for me not just to jump into the first job straight after Norwich. It was quite fast - I think we had the first meeting eight or 10 days after I was sacked by Norwich."
Ex Charlton Athletic man joins PFA camp
Meanwhile, former Charlton Athletic player Tennai Watson has begun training with the PFA pre-season training camp as he awaits the chance to join a new club. The 28-year-old made 21 appearances in all competitions for the Addicks last season, including a 22 minute cameo in the League One play-off final against Leyton Orient.
Charlton Athletic had confirmed that Watson had not been offered a new contract in their retained list published in May. The wide player joined Chuks Aneke, Dean Bouzanis, Aaron Henry and Danny Hylton as being released, with Hylton staying at The Valley in a coaching capacity.
Watson’s campaign last term was blighted by injury and he will be hoping to gain fitness with the PFA group which includes former Newcastle United man Paul Dummett and ex Charlton Athletic man Jake Forster-Caskey.
In other news, Ex QPR youngster lands 'head-turning' Saudi Arabia transfer.