Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

QPR head to the Riverside stadium this weekend for a crucial Championship fixture, as a win could put further breathing space between themselves and the relegation area.

Rangers are currently just four points off the drop zone and they have some tricky fixtures ahead, with games against Sheffield United, WBA and Swansea City all before the end of March.

On top of that, Boro will be no walk-over themselves and they handed out an embarrassing 5-1 defeat to QPR at Loftus Road earlier in the season, one of Jim Magilton's last games as manager.

To add to the intrigue, it could well be Mick Harford's final game in the dug-out as the club could be onto their sixth manager of the season by next week (after Jim Magilton, Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham who co-managed one game, Paul Hart and then Harford).

There are growing rumours that Harford will soon step down, with Crystal Palace's manager Neil Warnock still seen as the most likely replacement. The Evening Standard reports today that Harford is resigned to quitting his post and that Warnock has met with QPR bosses on more than one occasion to iron out a deal.

Warnock refused to comment on a possible switch after his side's defeat at the weekend and even discussed his plans for Palace's weekend game against Doncaster Rovers so he appeared to have committed his short-term future to them.

They also have their FA Cup replay against Aston Villa tonight after drawing 2-2 at Selhurst Park a week-and-a-half ago. Should they win, it could be viewed as the perfect send-off for Warnock though alternatively, he might be reluctant to leave if his side is still in the competition.

The uncertainty over his future at Palace, after the club was plunged into administration, will be the most likely motivation for him to quit, with a sizeable contract at Loftus Road his potential prize. At 61, he can rightly expect a degree of stability in his career plans and playing a waiting game whilst Palace search for new investment may not suit.

Palace themselves could also welcome the deal. Though they will be reluctant to lose Warnock, who clearly yields a lot of influence around the club, the compensation they would receive will be greatly welcomed by the club's administrators. There are rumours of a £1m release clause in his contract and though Rangers will want to negotiate a better deal, the financial boost from a switch will be hard for Palace to ignore.

Harford certainly seems to have accepted that his days are numbered. He met yesterday with new chairman Ishan Saksena and though I don't believe he was instructed that his services aren't required, he didn't receive any further assurances either, apart from his current mandate to look after the team. He acknowledged himself last weekend that results under him needed to be better to make a real case for him to stay.

Lee Cook and senior players backed Harford but their endorsement is unlikely to sway either Saksena or chairman of the football club, Gianni Paladini.

Will it bring a barn-storming performance on Saturday then, if the players believe they are playing under Mick for the last time? Though results have been poor as mentioned, he has won the respect of his players and others beside, as he genuinely seems to have a lot of affection for QPR and a lot of concern about their future.

Of course, QPR need a positive result this weekend for bigger reasons than giving Harford a good send-off, not least their precarious league position.