UPDATED: Additional Sousa-to-QPR Reports

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The Guardian - QPR set to appoint Sousa as manager•
Former Portugal midfielder is friends with Briatore• Will be club's sixth manager in two yearsguardian.co.uk, Wednesday November 19 2008
- Queens Park Rangers are set to name the former Portugal midfielder Paulo Sousa as their new manager in succession to Iain Dowie, who was sacked last month.
- Sousa, currently a coach with his country's national team, has held talks with the Rangers co-owner Flavio Briatore and is expected to be confirmed as the club's sixth manager, including caretakers, in two years before the weekend.
The club's temporary manager, Gareth Ainsworth, saw his hopes of assuming the reins on a permanent basis wrecked by recent defeats to Ipswich and Burnley.
- Sousa, 38, struck up a friendship with Briatore during his time playing in Italy with Internazionale, Juventus and Parma. The Guardian


Dave McIntyre/BBC606 - Back to the Future
- QPR boss Flavio Briatore is close to installing a new coach to work under him and should have his man in place by the weekend.
- Former Portugal midfielder Paulo Sousa, hotly tipped to take over, had a glittering playing career and will no doubt be compared to compatriot Jose Mourinho if he is appointed.
- Betting on the QPR manager's job was suspended yesterday, apparently after a massive bet on Sousa was placed, so someone was very confident ex-Italy boss Roberto Donadoni won’t be tempted to take the job after being approached.
- Former Italy defender Alessandro Costacurta will come into contention if both Donadoni and Sousa turn Rangers down.
- Several British managers have stayed out of the running because of the board’s role in transfers and team selection.
- That was also the case before the appointment of Gigi De Canio 13 months ago, when Glenn Roeder was the leading British candidate.
- Iain Dowie was later brought in because it was accepted by the owners that having a foreign coach brought various problems.
- He also took the role believing he would have ultimate control over signings and other football matters – again based on lessons learned at QPR previously.
- On both counts, there has been a U-turn and Rangers are back to where they started; looking for a suave foreign coach in the belief he’ll weave his magic while his bosses take the wider – arguably more important – decisions.
- A home defeat to Burnley was enough to end Gareth Ainsworth’s chances of getting the job, but he did his managerial aspirations no harm at all during a spell as caretaker.
- Ainsworth enjoyed his taste of the job and is keen for more of the same – and his credentials have been boosted by his time at the helm of such a volatile club.
- For now, it seems Ainsworth will have a place among the backroom team at QPR. But when managerial jobs are up for grabs elsewhere in the future, expect him to attract some interest. BBC606


The MAIL/Ben Hunt - QPR plump for Paulo Sousa but Ainsworth expected to stay on Paulo Sousa is today expected to be appointed as Queens Park Rangers' new manager.
Player-coach Gareth Ainsworth had been placed in temporary charge and was keen to win the role the full-time, but defeats to Burnley and Ipswich ruined his chances of landing the job on a permanent basis.

Ainsworth is, however, expected to stay at the club as part of the coaching staff under Sousa, who could be in the dug-out for Saturday's Championship match against Watford.

Co-owner Flavio Briatore sees the former Portugal midfielder as the right candidate to lead his side to the top flight. Sousa has been working as assistant to Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz and has also coached the Under-15 national team

The 38-year-old won 51 caps and enjoyed a successful playing career with clubs including Benfica, Juventus and Inter Milan before he was forced to retire through injury. Briatore's choice is something of a surprise - it had been reported he was considering appointing himself as Iain Dowie's replacement.
He had been keen for Dowie to include loan-signings such as Real Madrid youngster Daniel Parejo and Samuel Di Carmine in his squad.
However, the former Crystal Palace and Charlton boss was clearly unhappy with the Italian's input when it came to team selection and left the club after only 15 games.
Briatore and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone completed their takeover of the club just over a year ago and were later joined in their investment by Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.
Back then, Italian Luigi de Canio was in charge and led the club to a respectable finish in the Championship.
However, his time at Loftus Road was cut short after only 35 games and he left in May this year.
Although reign was brief, De Canio won over the club's supporters, who are likely to be sceptical about Sousa's appointment given his lack of club management, not to mention his knowledge of the English game - though he at least speaks the language.
Sousa's first job will be to boost the club's attacking line-up with more loan signings.
Ainsworth missed out on Bolton Wanderers' Heidar Helguson last week, while Sunderland's Michael Chopra agreed to rejoin Cardiff City.
He is expected to be handed substantial transfer funds in the January transfer window, while Briatore will continue to use his link in Italy to secure more arrivals on loan. Mail


The Mirror/John Cross - QPR to name Paulo Sousa as new manager
Paulo Sousa is the surprise choice as the new QPR manager.
The former Portugal midfielder was at Loftus Road and the club’s training ground yesterday for talks.
Sousa, whose clubs as a player included Benfica, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund, is Portugal assistant coach but did not travel with the team for their friendly in Brazil.
Sousa’s odds to replace axed Iain Dowie plunged from 25-1 to 1-3 favourite yesterday. Mirror


The Sun SHOCK ... Paulo Sousa in line for job-
The Sun - Sousa set for QPR boss job
PAULO SOUSA is Flavio Briatore’s shock choice as the next manager of QPR.
The former Portugal midfielder, 38, has agreed a deal and will replace Gareth Ainsworth.
Ainsworth has been in caretaker charge since co-owner Briatore sacked Iain Dowie last month.
Defeats to Burnley and Ipswich scuppered his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis but he will stay on at the club.
Sousa is currently assistant to Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz and played 51 times for his country.
Briatore also considered ex-Italy boss Roberto Donadoni but settled on Sousa, who is likely to be at the helm for Saturday’s Championship trip to Watford. The Sun