Exclusive: QPR told to consider ex-Luton Town boss amid "strange" Marti Cifuentes situation | OneFootball

Joe Jacobson believes former Luton Town manager Rob Edwards could be a good option to replace Marti Cifuentes at QPR.

Pundit Joe Jacobson believes former Luton Town manager Rob Edwards should be among the candidates to replace Marti Cifuentes at Queens Park Rangers.

Speculation about Cifuentes' future at QPR first emerged last week when The Sun revealed that he was considering hanging in his resignation after becoming frustrated with the direction the club were heading in under CEO Christian Nourry.

Rumours about Cifuentes' potential exit gathered pace over the weekend after Sky Sports claimed that the Spaniard's representatives had held talks with West Bromwich Albion, who are currently searching for a new manager following the sacking of Tony Mowbray last week.

It looked as though Cifuentes was set to make the move to The Hawthorns after he was placed on gardening leave by the R's on Tuesday night, effectively ending his tenure at Loftus Road, with Nourry describing recent events as a "disappointing situation for everyone concerned".

However, there was an unexpected twist in the saga on Wednesday morning when journalist John Percy revealed that Cifuentes is not currently on Albion's shortlist, and he confirmed that the Midlands outfit are "still going through the recruitment process" and no candidate has been offered the job at this point.

Joe Jacobson tips Rob Edwards to replace Marti Cifuentes at QPR

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, ex-Wycombe Wanderers defender turned EFL pundit Joe Jacobson admitted he was surprised by the timing of Cifuentes being placed on gardening leave with just one game of the season remaining, and he suggested Edwards as a possible replacement for the 42-year-old at QPR.

"It's a strange situation with Marti Cifuentes," Jacobson said.

"I'm surprised at the timing of it all, they could have waited a week or 10 days until the season has finished for both sides to get that done.

"It's strange now that it's come out that West Brom are not interested and he's not on their shortlist, so it looks to be a bit of an error on the part of Cifuentes and his people, although you never know the conversations that are going on behind the scenes.

"He seems like a very good manager and someone that I think will manage higher up the pyramid.

"Rob Edwards did an incredible job at Forest Green and Luton.

"Luton are a similar club to QPR in terms of what the fans expect and what the players are expected to do, and he's someone who has had a little bit of a break now and is probably desperate to get back into it."

Rob Edwards would be a risky appointment for QPR

While he will not be taking over at West Brom, it seems Cifuentes has been looking for a way out of QPR for some time after a breakdown in his relationship with Nourry, and it is difficult to see any way back for him at the club after being placed on gardening leave.

R's supporters will be disappointed by the manner of Cifuentes' exit, but given the impressive work he has done at Loftus Road over the past 18 months, there is no doubt that he will be tough to replace.

Edwards made history when he guided Luton to the Premier League for the first time in 2023, but they were relegated from the top flight after an underwhelming campaign last season, and he left Kenilworth Road in January with the club sitting just outside the bottom three in the Championship.

As Jacobson says, Edwards may feel refreshed and ready to get back into management after his recent break, but the end of his time with the Hatters does raise some question marks about the 42-year-old, and his appointment would be a big gamble for the Hoops.