Loftus Road club welcomes Iain Dowie to the top job

Iain Dowie has been named as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers, following the departure of Luigi De Canio last week.

The 43-year-old has signed a two-year contract at Loftus Road, the W12 club announced today.

Dowie said he felt privileged to take up the post: “QPR is a fantastic club, with a successful history and I'm going to relish the challenge that lies ahead," he told the club’s official website.

"I've been thoroughly impressed by the new investors and their fresh, aggressive and innovative approach to all sporting matters, as well as the marketing and commercial aspect of this football club,” he added.

Dowie is no stranger to QPR: he spent three years at Loftus Road as a player and was caretaker manager for a brief spell in 1998 before becoming Assistant Manager under Gerry Francis.

He has also had spells as manager of Oldham Athletic, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic and Coventry City.

The former Northern Ireland striker played professionally for 13 years, making a name for himself at Southampton by scoring 30 goals in 122 league appearances.

QPR defender Fitz Hall told the club's website today that there would be a lot of changes at Loftus Road under Dowie.

“Training will be completely different, it will be far more intense,” he said.

“In my opinion, he is the man to get us into the Premiership, and that’s what we are all working towards.”

Earlier this week, QPR also confirmed it had signed Newcastle defender Peter Ramage and Slavia Prague goalkeeper, Radek Cerny.

The W12 club is owned by F1 head Bernie Ecclestone, Renault Formula One chief Flavio Briatore and the family of the richest man in Britain, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.

Briatore recently told the BBC he had big plans for QPR: “I want to create an international brand and I believe we have the possibility,” he said.

14 May 2008