"Massive gap" - Exclusive: Don Goodman reveals QPR concern | OneFootball

Don Goodman has given his verdict on whether QPR can challenge for promotion in the Championship next season.

Pundit Don Goodman admits he has doubts over whether Queens Park Rangers can challenge for the play-offs in the Championship next season.

QPR were widely tipped to be one of the dark horses in the Championship last season, but they failed to live up to those expectations, and after flirting with relegation at various points of the campaign, they eventually recorded a 15th-placed finish.

After being placed on gardening leave following reports that his representatives held talks with West Bromwich Albion over their vacant managerial position, the R's parted company with head coach Marti Cifuentes last month, and he was replaced by former Rennes and Strasbourg boss Julien Stephan.

Stephan has brought in three new signings since taking over at Loftus Road in Kealey Adamson, Amadou Mbengue and Kwame Poku, and it seems the Hoops are far from done in the transfer market, with French outlet Foot Mercato claiming that Schalke striker Pape Meissa Ba is in advanced talks to join the club.

In addition to the new arrivals, QPR have also managed to tie a number of their existing players down to new contracts, including Joe Walsh, Murphy Cooper, Jimmy Dunne, Steve Cook, Ziyad Larkeche, Sam Field and Michael Frey.

Don Goodman issues verdict on QPR's promotion hopes next season

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman expressed reservations about whether QPR will be among the play-off contenders in the Championship in the upcoming campaign, but he admitted that, like Sunderland last season, surprise packages can sometimes emerge.

"There are always usually one or two surprises in the Championship with teams doing better than you would expect, and maybe QPR can be that team," Goodman said.

"It is a massive gap for them to bridge from where they were last season, they were closer to relegation than a play-off spot.

"I know they've signed Kwame Poku and one or two others, but I do feel it would be a tall order for them to be fighting it out for a top six place, if I'm honest.

"However, I would probably have said exactly the same thing about Sunderland last season, and look at them, they are a Premier League team now.

"As I said, there are usually one or two surprises, and QPR fans will be hoping that, this year, it can be them."

QPR could be a team to watch in the Championship next season under Julien Stephan

QPR were backed to be an outside play-off challenger in the Championship at the start of last season before spending much of the campaign battling against relegation, so supporters will not be getting too carried away with the club's strong transfer business.

However, with the R's making some exciting signings and reaching fresh contract agreements with a number of their key players, it does appear that something is building at Loftus Road, and there are plenty of reasons for optimism ahead of the new season.

Of course, the Hoops' success will largely depend on how well Stephan is able to adapt to Championship management, but the 44-year-old has a strong track record from his time in France with Rennes and Strasbourg, and he may prove to be a shrewd appointment.