Cifuentes is axed by QPR
Marti Cifuentes has been axed by QPR.
The Spaniard has been shown the door by Rangers, who say he has been “placed on gardening leave”.
It comes after his representatives spoke to West Bromwich Albion about him potentially taking over at the West Midlands club, who recently sacked manager Tony Mowbray.
Assistant coaches Xavi Calm and Kevin Betsy have been placed in caretaker charge ahead of this weekend’s final match of the season, against Sunderland.
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, QPR said: “Marti Cifuentes has been placed on gardening leave.
“Assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis and prepare the squad for our final fixture of the 2024/25 campaign against Sunderland.”
Chief executive Christian Nourry said: “This is naturally a disappointing situation for everyone concerned.
“I fully understand and appreciate supporters’ frustrations at this time.
“As a club, we are working to ensure this matter is resolved as swiftly as possible so we can start preparations in earnest for the future.”
Cifuentes, 42, was appointed in October 2023, replacing the sacked Gareth Ainsworth.
Having arrived from Swedish club Hammarby, he inherited a side which had lost six matches in a row and were bottom of the Championship, six points from safety.
Rangers stayed up, beating champions Leicester and thrashing Leeds in the process.
This season has been a troubled one, partly because of a host of injuries, but the club have again remained in the division, further boosting Cifuentes’ popularity among fans – but also, it seems, his potential for attracting other clubs.
Explainer: Why ‘gardening leave’?
As discussed on the latest West London Sport podcast, the issue of compensation is all-important – and ultimately what recent manoeuvres by the Cifuentes camp have been about.
He has effectively been sacked by QPR. This is after months of hinting at behind-the-scenes problems and, more recently, those discussions with another Championship club.
His time at Loftus Road is almost certainly over and Rangers will now look to appoint a new head coach.
Placing him on gardening leave appears to be an attempt by the club to protect their position when it comes to compensation.
Sacking a manager not only usually involves having to pay him off, in this situation it means he would simply be free to take another job.
QPR therefore have moved to axe Cifuentes without giving up their claim for compensation should he move elsewhere.
Their position has still arguably been weakened in this respect, because other clubs know they do not want Cifuentes back and want to install a replacement. Rangers therefore need this situation to be resolved.
But it appears they have calculated that this course of action represents their best chance of removing Cifuentes in light of him eyeing a move elsewhere, while not foregoing the compensation.
It is not the first time QPR have placed a manager on gardening leave.
Ian Holloway was infamously removed via the same method in 2006, when the club was owned by Antonio Caliendo and former chairman Gianni Paladini.
Rangers claimed it was because Holloway wanted to leave for Leicester. It wasn’t.
It was because of poor results and months of bitter infighting, partly related to a boardroom battle that had raged at the club, and because it was seen as a way of getting rid of him without having to pay him off.
This time, however, a manager really has been placed on gardening leave because of his apparent interest in another job.
QPR will hope a swift resolution – and that compensation – now follows.
The other possibility is gridlock, with Cifuentes unable to take another job and Rangers unable to appoint a replacement – at least one with the same title, of head coach – until the situation is resolved.
Matthew 
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Antonio Manuel 
05/05/2025 @ 11:47 am
Get rid of nourry he has to go .
Marti was the best manager we have had in a long time . Marti would have taken us up to the premiership. I’m disgusted with the clubs decision to let him go . As for next season it may be my last I have supported then since 1965 . get rid of Nourry now ……..
30/04/2025 @ 8:48 pm
Every word completely agree we’re end up in League 1 after another struggle in the Championship which the owners appear not to care. Which us loyal Fans deserve much more. COURS
30/04/2025 @ 8:09 pm
Nourry??? what bloody experience has this wet behind the ears privileged from childhood jumped up no nothing little jizz bubble got. medical support via facetime and no understanding of the club I live and have supported since I was six years old . I’m 52 now and have stayed loyal through everything but this situation and it’s catalyst (Nourry) smack of ” agree with me or else” selfish ego driven petulance. I support careful handling of club finances as I remember when we nearly ceased to exist but I don’t support egotistical muppets who like a title but not the effort to understand it’s responsibility….close to tears of frustration…I miss Jim Smith that beautiful Bald Eagle who would tan this muppets backside and tell him to grow up or naff off
30/04/2025 @ 1:56 pm
Yes a lot of people are against the board. Understand that, but it seems the club losses amount to so much and it is said they put so much of there own money into the club. So may be the supporters have a lot to be greatfull for. No mater how Marti is liked and he is. He has to me always been a very defensive minded manager, which makes goals harder to come by. To me to do well in the championship you need to play on the front foot a lot more.
30/04/2025 @ 1:07 pm
The Owners and the board are putting their own money into the club as we trade at a big loss, be careful what you wish for or there maybe no QPR to support, I was a Marti fan, but no Manager or player is ever bigger than the club & Marti & his representatives haven’t covered themselves in glory, let’s all stick together and support the lads on Saturday. U Rsss
30/04/2025 @ 12:15 pm
very bad ,getting g rid off a good manager the board room needs to look at themselves and back the manager or sell the club to people that want to make qpr a good place again in Premier league
30/04/2025 @ 12:09 pm
Again this board have stung the Supporters by trying to lay the blame for this debacle at yet another manager’s door. We the supporters are very wise to this QPR board and can clearly see where once again the fault lies. 2 things don’t clearly add up, 1st, Why do we have a health expert not in site, or even in the country, who we rely on for nutrition for the player, 2nd Why are the players suffer so many injuries that have plagued a promising mid season attack on the play off positions? Answer those questions honestly, not cloak and dagger and We The QPR supporters will start seeing the real reasons for Marti’s departure. I for 1 are fed up with the of funds that QPR seem to pretend hold them back, when actually they get great monies from merchandise and fans than travel the length and breath of the country in Blue and White Hoops singing Our Passion for the club we Love. It isn’t blind to us Patriotic fans that the board need replacing, as they are entirely complicit in this failing yet again. They are being paid to f**k US Supporters over again and again and again. Totally disappointed yet again. We are becoming, no we have Become a joke and Classless. Long gone are the heady days of QPR challenging for honours and being a club of Stature. Gutted, but to be expected, as long as the board doesn’t not change and are hell bent on failure, not progression. This lot are disgracing this beloved club and need outing. How comes the likes of Birmingham, Wrexham to name but 2 can get great visionaries behind them and get going and we seem stuck and rudderless. QPR Loyal Supporters, we MUST demand Change, not ask, DEMAND it, as we deserve, before it is too late, if it already isn’t!!…
30/04/2025 @ 10:00 am
We will never get to the bottom of this and quite frankly i dont give a toss anymore this board needs replacing that yank is behind all this stirring the shit cup.
30/04/2025 @ 7:42 am
Qpr would have done better sacking the ceo & his cronies. Lost the best manager they had in a long time.
30/04/2025 @ 2:04 am
we need a good seasoned manager to come in and the club to improve this squad, we need to get our best players to sign new contracts and get a decent striker in urgently. These owners need to start doing instead of just talking if they have had enough sell to someone who willing to get the job done we are sick and tired of excuses about a new stadium or getting a good striker in all the neighbouring clubs have gone on to better things Fulham,Brentford, chelsea we are stuck in limbo
29/04/2025 @ 10:58 pm
I have supported QPR since 1967 but if Cifuentes goes that will be the end.
29/04/2025 @ 10:05 pm
How so very sad for the RRRRS.
29/04/2025 @ 9:23 pm
Sack Nourry or he will destroy QPR.How can he justify physiotherapy being organised from Dubai?
Viva Marti.
29/04/2025 @ 9:02 pm
Once again rangers board shoot there selves in the foot Marti wanted to try and achieve more next season maybe top six just like every qpr fan wants so let’s get rid of the best manager we’ve had since Warnock .
Well done now why don’t you all go. we need to get owners that are not pen pushers but qpr fans who want the same as us.
Marti thankyou for all you tried to do these clowns will not know what they have done by their stupidity in not supporting you and your team