Norwich City and West Brom may be watching new QPR manager developments closely | OneFootball

Norwich and West Brom will be on high alert regarding the latest developments behind the scenes at QPR

Martí Cifuentes’ future at QPR will have Norwich City and West Brom on high alert amid their manager searches.

According to The Sun, the Spaniard is considering a departure from Loftus Road due to a strained relationship with Christian Nourry.

The QPR CEO arrived in January 2024 to oversee the running of the club, and it is believed that the coach is unhappy with the direction he wants to take the team.

It’s been a season of ups and downs for the London outfit, but there is no doubt that Cifuentes has improved their position compared to when he took charge, arriving from Swedish side Hammarby in October 2023.

Rangers were sitting 23rd in the Championship table, with just eight points from 14 games, when he took over and they are now 15th, and well clear of any relegation threat.

Norwich and West Brom will be keeping an eye on QPR, Marti Cifuentes situation

If Cifuentes were to depart QPR then it would no doubt be a blow to the club given the impact he’s had in the last 18 months or so.

What’s worse for the Hoops is that there would no doubt be interest in his services across the Championship.

Both Norwich and West Brom are currently seeking new managers after Johannes Hoff Thorup and Tony Mowbray were both dismissed earlier this week.

Cifuentes brought an attractive, progressive style of attacking football to QPR, and worked wonders with limited resources to restore them to a mid-table operation after significant relegation fears.

He managed to create a strong bond with supporters, who were becoming disillusioned with the direction the club were heading under previous manager Gareth Ainsworth.

Loftus Road had become a revolving door of managers, with the likes of Michael Beale, Neil Critchley and Mark Warburton all also overseeing the team in a short span of time.

Cifuentes ended that rut, and restored some respectability to a team struggling to compete financially with their division rivals.

All of this will have caught the attention of Norwich and West Brom, who both have greater resources to provide a coach of his calibre.

The pair both spent much of this season competing for a place in the play-offs, and while they have each fallen short - resulting in the dismissals of Thorup and Mowbray, of course - they doubtless have Premier League aspirations and more appealing resources and infrastructure.

You don't really get the same impression with QPR right now, and that could be decisive as Cifuentes weighs up his future in West London.

QPR's Marti Cifuentes could potentially be tempted by Championship switch

While it’s possible that Nourry could mend the relationship with Cifuentes, the alternative of moving to Carrow Road or the Hawthorns could still be quite appealing.

Both clubs have endured underwhelming campaigns this year, but it’s clear that their ambitions will be to fight for promotion in the immediate-term.

The pair were both in the play-offs in 2024, and will have the resources in the summer to recruit players to get there again.

Their recent Premier League history shows it is possible to guide them to the top flight, whereas QPR haven’t competed in that division since 2015, and have spent just three seasons at that level this century compared to seven for Norwich and 13 for the Baggies.

QPR supporters will certainly hope Cifuentes can be convinced to stay because it will sting to see him in another dugout in the Championship next year.