Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

The best kept-secret in football is now out.

Weeks of speculation about the future identity of QPR's manager are at an end as Crystal Palace's Neil Warnock finally signed on the dotted line yesterday after a compensation deal was hammered out between the two clubs.

The Hoops have been on the look-out for a new boss since Paul Hart left at the turn of the year, with caretaker manager Mick Harford freely admitting that he was there only to look after the club in the interim. Warnock's name was closely linked with the QPR position, especially after his former club Crystal Palace went into administration and were docked ten points. It left him in an unenviably insecure position at the club and more receptive to offers from elsewhere.

Those offers came quick and fast from west London and the two clubs agreed a deal yesterday, which is reportedly set to improve Palace's coffers by £500,000. There were rumours of a £1 million release clause in Warnock's Palace contract, so with that club in administration, it may have been a question of QPR haggling down their London rivals over the last few days.

Despite Rangers' precarious league position, just three points off the relegation spots, Warnock was adamant that he was making the right decision.

"I am delighted to be joining a club with the history that QPR has," he said.

"As a manager, Loftus Road is always a place I loved because of the fantastic atmosphere there. Looking from afar, I believe this is the perfect time to come in, with the new structure and chairman in place."

Signing a manager of Warnock's calibre is certainly a considerable achievement for QPR's new chairman Ishan Saksena and his financial backers Lakshmi Mittal and Amit Bhatia. For all his characterisations as a serial moaner and hot-head, Warnock has bags of experience in the Football League at clubs including Huddersfield Town, Plymouth Argyle and most notably at Sheffield United who he took into the Premiership and to the FA Cup semi-finals.

The degree to which Warnock forges an easy working relationship with Saksena could have great bearing both on his future with the club and QPR's potential. Recent managerial appointments have been blighted by interference from previous chairman Flavio Briatore which meant that few lasted any great length of time. Though he will not be able to go into the transfer market before the end of this season, it will also be interesting to see if he recieves significant financial backing from the club, beyond investment in loan signings and free transfers.

Saksena said: "Neil was always our number one target so we are delighted to announce him as our manager.

"He has great experience in English football and a phenomenal track record. I believe he is the right man to help QPR achieve its ambitions."

He faces a formidable test in his first game in charge though as QPR welcome promotion-chasing WBA this weekend.