Warburton plays down chances of QPR promotion challenge next season
Mark Warburton has played down QPR’s chances of pushing for promotion next season.
But the Rangers boss believes Barnsley have shown that challenging for the play-offs is possible for clubs with smaller budgets if they manage to keep their best players.
Eight wins from their past 12 matches and the development of several of their players have raised hopes that Rangers might be contenders next term.
Their four January loan signings have all impressed, with Charlie Austin and Stefan Johansen particularly instrumental in the upturn in results.
A top-half finish this season would leave many fans optimistic ahead of next term.
But Warburton said: “I think we need a sense of reality.
“When you look at some of the budgets that exist in this division – teams that come down from the Premier League – they’re multiples (of QPR’s budget).
“At the end of the day it’s the budget you have, the financial muscle, the type of player you can secure, that all makes such a big difference.
“I’m told we’re in the bottom quarter budget-wise. So if people say QPR deserve to be pushing, what do Nottingham Forest say? Derby or Sheffield Wednesday? Or Huddersfield?
“All these teams would say exactly the same and that’s without mentioning the likes of Watford, Norwich and Bournemouth. These are teams with huge budgets in comparison.
“It’s about reality but also never showing a lack of ambition and desire to push as high as we possibly can.
“Can we maintain the squad? Can we have a good summer window? Can we add one or two and retain one or two?
“If we can do that then we’ll give it our best shot for sure.”
Warburton acknowledges that other clubs – including Brentford when he was their manager – have shown it is possible to build a promotion-challenging team on a limited budget.
“Absolutely. Of course you can,” he said.
“We’ve seen it with Sheffield United, saw it with Brentford and seen it with Barnsley this year.
“Barnsley kept (Cauley) Woodrow, (Conor) Chaplin and (Alex) Mowatt and these type of players and added one or two quality names.
“Don’t forget last season Barnsley were one point away from relegation. They kept the squad together, built on that, and the unity and desire can take you a long way, it really can.
“Barnsley are in the top six and pushing. So can you beat the (financial) equation? No doubt you can.
“But in general, when you look at some of the financial muscle these big teams have, it does make it a very tough task.”
16/03/2021 @ 3:59 pm
The fact that we are still ‘consistently inconsistent’ says it all. We need a few more ‘Eze’ sales to help develop a decent squad in depth before even thinking about play off places. I wonder where we would be now had TF not got Charlie – this fact alone shows where we really stand in this division, which is mid table at best. Personally, I long for the days of Marsh & co but those days I fear will never be repeated for decades to come – way beyond my lifetime..
13/03/2021 @ 10:20 am
A good article, well structured and realistic. I would however throw in the mix that we sold Eze for good money, which was the stand out sale of any championship player to the premier and that whilst not all the fee was made available for signings (and I can understand that from the board), the funds that were used have produced mixed results. Willock is I’ve stated before is Warburton’s best piece of business, I rate Thomas too although injury has only given us a glimpse of his potential. The Scottish recruits however have been woeful, and have been shown wanting. Wallace is the only one who has actually shown improvement (over the last few games) the key for him now is consistency, although age is not on his side now. The central issue for next season is now whether any or all the Loan Rangers can be signed permanently. Sam Alladyce and Scott Parker will have a big say in our future !