QPR's Charlton Victory...De Canio's Expected Appointment

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Most of the media reports seem to expect that despite Harford's record as caretaker manager, Luigi De Canio will be appointed QPR's new manager. Whether Mick Harford would stay on (or would really be wanted by the new manager) remains to be seen.

Telegraph/Tom Cary - QPR players give Mick Harford thumbs up
If Mick Harford represents, in a managerial sense, a dead man walking, he is certainly doing an excellent job of staving off the inevitable.
Italian media reports suggested on Friday that former Siena coach Luigi De Canio had agreed a two-year contract at Loftus Road.
But there has been no official announcement emanating from the club in the aftermath of Saturday's win at the Valley and, laconic as ever, Harford played reports of his impending demise with a straight bat, as he has done since taking over from John Gregory on a caretaker basis on Oct 1.
"I'm just told to get on with the job. I've not got involved in the politics," he said. "I prepare the team as best as I can and, on today's showing, we've got a great chance of climbing up the table."
Now unbeaten in four, the west London side registered their first win at Charlton for 25 years on Saturday and Harford is making it increasingly difficult for new co-owner Flavio Briatore — in attendance once again — to stick the knife in.
Harford was locked in a meeting with chairman Gianni Paladini on Saturday night, and while the smart money is still on De Canio or former Palermo manager Francesco Guidolin to bring a dash of Italian flair to QPR, the former Luton and England striker certainly has the backing of the players.
"We all get on with Mick. He comes across well and he's very popular within the dressing-room," said Adam Bolder, who scored the winner, his first goal for the club, in the 72nd minute. "He's established a base and it would be disappointing to see him go. We've been a lot more solid recently."
Charlton certainly could not break them down. Alan Pardew's side were ponderous in possession and are haemorrhaging confidence by the game.
Andy Reid looked about as effective as his daughter — who showed a couple of useful touches in her cameo role as a pre-match mascot — and the long-term injury to striker Svetoslav Todorov is particularly worrying.
QPR could and should have won by more. Martin Rowlands missed a penalty, while Mikele Leigertwood and Rowan Vine also had good chances to put the visitors ahead before Bolder's decisive contribution.
Pardew says he is thinking of bringing in some emergency loan signings. "If you look at the characters that we've lost – Powell, Todorov, Thatcher, Holland – that's a lot of knowledge and experience.
"Who I get back this week will be important. If I get the right leadership back then I'll probably excuse going out there [the transfer market]. But it is a possibility. When you're on the back of three defeats, I think it's possible for any club to look for a boost. Telegraph

INDEPENDENT
Charlton Athletic 0 Queen's Park Rangers 1: Bolder strikes to lift revitalised QPR from the basement - By Evan Fanning
The bottom half of the Championship may lack the glamour of the grand prix circuit but new QPR owner, Flavio Briatore, seems happy to be a part of it nonetheless. The Renault Formula One principal Flavio Briatore, who bought the Loftus Road club last month along with Bernie Ecclestone, celebrated in the directors' box as his side recorded their first away win of the season.
The new owners are expected to name Luigi De Canio as QPR's new manager later this week. De Canio, 50, is known as a something of a relegation expert, having twice steered unfancied Siena to safety in Italy's Serie A, but if he does take over he is unlikely to find a result or performance as impressive as that garnered by the caretaker manager Mick Harford at The Valley.
Harford met the chairman, Gianni Paladini, on Saturday night to discuss his future and it is thought that he will be asked to stay on as first-team coach, the position he held prior to filling in as manager. He remained philosophical about his role, however, preferring instead to praise his players.
"I came here to work with John Gregory, and I enjoy the role as caretaker manager," he said, "but [losing the job] is something I'll have to deal with if and when it comes. It's not about what happens to me but to the players, who have responded magnificently."
QPR are now unbeaten in their last four games and this victory lifted them off the bottom of the table. Their captain, Adam Bolder, said the players would like to see Harford get the job permanently, but admitted the new owners might have different ideas. "Obviously, they've got a lot of money, but they're not going to be stupid," he said. "They're businessmen and they're not just going to splash money left, right and centre. They're going to look at the situation and what needs to be done."
Bolder scored a deserved 72nd-minute winner when he looped a loose ball into an empty Charlton goal after Marc Nygaard had challenged Nicky Weaver, a challenge Charlton felt should have led to a free-kick. QPR had already missed a penalty when Martin Rowlands' well-struck shot came back off the post after Rowan Vine was brought down by Jonathan Fortune.
Charlton are in freefall and their once slick football now looks ragged. Their manager, Alan Pardew, looked back on three defeats in a week, saying: "It's very disappointing, but it's important we don't get overly carried away, and we refocus, regroup and be strong as a unit. We've got enough quality in the team, there's no doubt about that." Independent

The Sun - By VIKKI ORVICE at The Valley
"....Hoops caretaker-boss Mick Harford has led them to two wins and two draws in four games, lifting them off the bottom of the table.
And this was the first QPR win at The Valley in 25 years.
But Harford knows his days are numbered as new owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone are expected to install former Napoli and Siena boss Luigi De Canio as coach.
Matchwinner Bolder said: “Mick’s very popular and it would be disappointing to see him go.” The Sun

Also - Mirror Match Report

See Also: Earlier Match Reports of QPR's Win at Charlton -