'Short fuse' - Two ex QPR bosses linked with tough managerial role

Two former QPR bosses are believed to be competing for the vacant managerial role at League Two outfit Gillingham. The club finished 12th in the fourth division this term.

The Gills dismissed manager Stephen Clemence late last month after just five months in the post. Clemence was the third manager to take charge at the club this season.

The ex Tottenham Hotspur, Birmingham City and Leicester City man replaced Keith Millen on an interim basis for a month after Neil Harris' departure. It leaves Gillingham in the market for a new boss once again as they continue a cutthroat approach to managerial appointments - their approach labelled as ‘short fuse’ by The Sun.

Gillingham won just one of their last six league outings this season, with only two victories at home since the turn of the year.

Former Cambridge United head coach Mark Bonner is an early favourite to take on the League Two role but he has competition from two managers that QPR supporters know well in Gareth Ainsworth and Mark Warburton.

Ainsworth has been out of work since being sacked by QPR in October. The 50-year-old was given his marching orders after a sixth consecutive defeat and the club positioned in the Championship drop zone.

Marti Cifuentes' predecessor does have a history in League Two, having been in charge at Wycombe Wanderers when the side were in the division. Ainsworth helped the club to promotion to League One via the play-off final in 2015.

Warburton is another man linked with the vacant Gillingham job. The 61-year-old has also been out of managerial work since leaving QPR, his departure coming in April 2022 at the end of his contract at Loftus Road.

The former Boreham Wood player spent three years with the Rs having previously worked at Rangers, Brentford and Nottingham Forest. Warburton has spent time managing in League One, while at Brentford, but League Two would be new ground for him as a boss.