"On This Day" Flashback: Ray Harford Resigns and Dowie Chosen Over Vinnie...Paladini Becomes Chairman..Half-Century Since Clive Clark's QPR Debut

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Ten Years Ago Today, Ray Harford Resigned:
The Independent - September 29,1998 - by Alan Nixon - Harford resigns as QPR manager

Ray Harford yesterday resigned as manager of troubled Queen's Park Rangers and brought his unhappy reign to an end within in a year.
Harford left after thinking over his future at the weekend following a humbling 4-1 defeat at Oxford United.
Coach at Blackburn Rovers when they won the title, Harford has had considerable problems at Rangers where he feels that he has been denied transfer funds. The signing of Vinnie Jones was made over his head and lately the fans have turned against the manager and his struggling team. A compensation figure has yet to be agreed, but rather than wait to haggle Harford has decided to leave.
Harford's chance of being given an escape route to Newcastle United disappeared when Kenny Dalglish was sacked a month ago.
Harford, who left West Bromwich Albion in the middle of last season to join the QPR, has achieved only one victory with the Loftus Road side in nine games this season. The club, second from bottom in the First Division, have appointed Iain Dowie, the Northern Ireland international striker, as caretaker manager. A statement from the club said: "Ray felt at this difficult time it was in the club's best interests he should step down." The Independent

Team for Harford's last game in charge: Oxford 4 QPR 1 -
QPR: Harper, Heinola (Scully 53), Baraclough, Yates, Ready, Maddix, Slade, Peacock, Kulcsar (Sheron 70), Gallen, Murray (Rose 63). Scully
Oxford Utd: Whitehead, Robinson, Marsh, Gray, Whelan (Murphy 55), Gilchrist, Powell, Smith (Hill 81), Thomson, Windass (Cook 83), Beauchamp. Goals: Beauchamp 15, Murphy 64, Thomson 72, Windass 75. - Match Report

[Ian Dowie - rather than Vinnie Jones - took over as caretaker manager. Two weeks later, Gerry Francis was appointed QPR manager. Ray Harford went on to coach elsewhere, before sadly, dying, only in his later fifties, in August, 2003. And a decade later, Dowie is back, this time as "permanent" manager (Chief Coach). See also Ray Harford Profile/Wikipedia


On this day three years ago, Gianni Paladini was appointed Chairman of Queens Park Rangers. Seems like a very long time ago....
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - 28 September 2005 Statement GIANNI PALADINI
Gianni Paladini has been appointed Chairman of Queens Park Rangers Football Club and QPR Holdings Ltd.
Interim Chairman Gualtiero Trucco has stepped down and the Board of Directors have unanimously chosen Paladini to take on the role on a full-time basis.
The changes were agreed at a Loftus Road Board Meeting on Wednesday afternoon and Paladini is delighted by the honour of this 'challenging but exciting' role.
"The Monaco investors have recommended that I be appointed Chairman and I am deeply honoured that the Directors have allowed me this opportunity.
"I hope now that after a period of instability we can all look forward to the brightest of futures at Loftus Road.
"We have a wonderful manager, an exciting and improving squad and a real opportunity to push for a place in the play-offs and even the Premiership.
"I believe these are wonderful times to be a QPR supporter and I just want to play whatever part I can in bringing both success and stability to this Club.
"I fully appreciate that supporters will have been a little bewildered by recent events and I wish that so much of what has happened could have happened differently.
"But I believe we now have the right people in place, both on the pitch and behind the scenes, to take this club forward.
"I would like to thank every single fan for their continued, passionate support for QPR and I would also like to pay tribute to all the staff here.
"Life hasn't been particularly easy for them recently either but every single one continues to work as hard as ever for the benefit of this club.
"It has never been clearer to me that, both in the stands and behind the scenes, this is a wonderful place full of very special people."


And a slightly-delayed Anniverary Note: Earlier this month (September 6) marked the half-century mark since QPR Winger, Clive Clark, made his QPR debut: September 6, 1958 against Bournemouth, away. QPR losing 0-2. (Also playing that day, Drinkwater and Ingham). Clark thrived at QPR before being sold to WBA by Alec Stock, reportedly to prevent him from being kicked around by Third Division defenders. At WBA, he spent a decade (including scoring twice against QPR at Wembley). Clark briefly returned to QPR in 1969, in a part-exchange for the brilliant Alan Glover, before moving on to Preston. See also Clark Stats. A board poster recently reported that Clark was not doing at all well; so all best wishes to him.. Some might argue that not enough is done to remember the QPR stalwarts of yesterday, who extend far beyond Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh and the rest of the 1967 Cup winning team.


- Stefan Moore Turns 25 - Twenty-five years ago, future QPR 'striker' Stefan Moore was born. After arriving at QPR from Aston Villa, with high praise from Ian Holloway, his QPR career never worked out. After QPR, spent time at Port Vale and Walsall. Moore Stats -- Moore/Wikipedia...