QPR’s Johannes Hoff Thorup setback should lead them to ex-Watford manager | OneFootball

The former Manchester United midfielder was let go after 14 months in the Vicarage Road dugout

After weeks of speculation, Johannes Hoff Thorup has turned QPR down to be their new manager.

Despite it being reported over two weeks ago by Pink Un that the 36-year-old former Norwich City boss was in "advanced talks" to become the new head coach at Loftus Road, talks have broken down, according to Tipsbladet.

The Hoops are now back to square one, and with the summer transfer window now briefly open, it's imperative that QPR find a new manager soon so they can start preparing for their 11th consecutive season in the Championship.

Danish outlet, Bold, have reported that current Randers manager Rasmus Bertelsen is on the club's radar, but perhaps the QPR hierarchy should delve back into the pool of recently sacked Championship bosses and take a look at Tom Cleverley, who many felt was unjustly removed from his position at Watford in May.

QPR should look to pursue Tom Cleverley

Tom Cleverley's first season in full-time management saw him become the first Watford boss to be in charge of a full season since Javi Gracia in 2018/19.

However, he won't be in the Vicarage Road dugout come August's curtain-raiser for next season, after he was removed from his position following a 14th-placed finish in the Championship.

Despite recording the Hornets' second-lowest league finish since the 2010/11 season, Cleverley's style of play earned him a lot of plaudits last season, and many feel that his recent sacking was due to him becoming a victim of his own early-season success.

The 35-year-old set his standards arguably too high in the opening half of the season, as he had Watford in an unlikely play-off spot following the sides' Boxing Day win over Portsmouth.

Watford did pick up the lowest number of points in the league following that win for the remainder of the season, but a mid-table finish was what many predicted the Hornets to achieve, and Cleverley helped them towards that.

Clearly, the former Manchester United and Watford midfielder has some unfinished business in the Championship, and if he was keen to get back to work soon, QPR could be the place to do it.

QPR's manager search must end soon

QPR's summer training camp takes place in just over a month's time, on July 9th. Therefore, the Hoops do have some time still to confirm a new man in the dugout ahead of the new season.

However, this decision will want to be made sooner rather than later to ensure plenty of preparation time ahead of the players' return to training.

Whether it's Rasmus Bertelsen, Tom Cleverley or a manager from elsewhere - Pierre Sage and Christian Titz have both also been linked - making an appointment is at the top of the to-do list of the higher ups at Loftus Road.

Whoever is brought in will have hopes of ending the current mid-table mediocrity at Loftus Road, and deliver an outside chance at a play-off spot for the first time since QPR won it in 2014.