QPR wanted Andre
Two seasons ago Burnley and QPR were both playing in the Premier League. We’d gone up as Championship runners-up in the previous season while Rangers had won promotion via the play-offs.
For QPR it was a third season in four in the top flight and a club that just enjoyed spending money on big money signings, but things were changing and they were no longer able to compete even with ourselves.
Les Ferdinand rejoined the club in February almost two years ago at a time when Harry Redknapp was just leaving and being replaced by Chris Ramsey.
Ferdinand said: “When I walked through the door, I said go and get Andre Gray – couldn’t afford him.” Andre was banging in the goals for their neighbours Brentford at the time but he was out of range for QPR who had Charlie Austin playing for them.
He then chased Dwight Gayle from Crystal Palace but it was the same story. “We can’t afford it,” Ferdinand bemoaned. “If I could buy more established players then we would do that, but it’s got to be right for the club.”
Today he admits: “We’ll still need to bring in experienced players but we can only afford younger players. We understand that. Not because I want to do that, it’s where we are at. Who knows? If we get some progression, the views of the owners may change and say here’s some money go to and spend.”
So they have a director of football who is looking forward to the day when they can go out spending money again, taking them back presumably to how the club was run previously.
QPR broke Financial Fair Play rules in winning promotion. Since Ramsey they’ve also employed Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as manager and have now turned to old boy Ian Holloway. They currently sit 18th in the Championship with 23 points from 20 games and have been beaten in each of their last three games, the last of which was against bottom of the league Rotherham.
Meanwhile Burnley continue along the path of spending what we can, when we can. We could afford Andre Gray (was it £37 million he cost according to Sean Dyche?) and are currently 13th in the Premier League.
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