QPR boss has no regrets over Manning stance

By

Ryan Manning of QPR

Mark Warburton has insisted he has no regrets about showing Ryan Manning the door at QPR.

Manning, whose Rangers contract was due to expire next summer, was recently sold to Swansea City after rejecting offers of a new deal.


He had not made a Championship appearance this season – Warburton refused to pick him unless he committed his future to the club.

Manager Warburton reiterated prior to Manning’s departure that he would not allow the Irishman to simply see out the remainder of his contract and walk away for no fee.

Lee Wallace, who has replaced Manning at left-back, gave away two penalties during Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat against Preston.

QPR boss Mark Warburton
Warburton took over as QPR boss last year

Manning can also play in midfield, where QPR’s options have been reduced by Luke Amos being sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

However, asked if he now had any regrets about the stance he took on Manning, Warburton said: “No. No I don’t. And that’s not being rude to Ryan at all.”

He added: “Any club, any business, cannot have assets walk out the door for nothing at the end of a contract. It’s ludicrous.

“The board and myself, (felt) you’ve got to be strong here – short-term pain, some long-term gain – you’ve got to turn round and say ‘no, that’s not going to happen’.

“We wish Ryan all the very best, but the club are not going to have that situation.

“I’m fully supportive of that. We’ve got to be strong.”

Manning was signed from Galway United in 2015 and made 96 appearances for the R’s, with 44 of them coming under Warburton last season.

‘For the good of QPR’

Bright Osayi-Samuel, whose contract is also due to expire next summer, has been selected this season and appears to be close to signing a new deal.

“The players get offered a contract and if they don’t want to sign it that’s absolutely their prerogative,” Warburton explained.

“But at that point our focus and our energy has to go into players who want to sign contracts and want to be here. Simple as that.

“Nothing rude to Ryan. I wish him well. I gave him more games than any other manager, so you know what I think of him.

“But from our point of view the club have got to be strong and I hope very much our message is conveyed that it’s for the good of QPR.

“No individual player or staff member is ever bigger than the club.”