Sousa to Be Announced as QPR Manager (Seen at Training Ground)

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Telegraph/Sandy Macaskill - Queens Park Rangers poised to appoint Paulo Sousa as new manager
- Championship side Queens Park Rangers are understood to be on the verge of appointing Paulo Sousa as their manager, after the former Portuguese international was seen at the club's training ground on Tuesday.
- Sousa has reportedly agreed contractual terms, although the club have made no official announcement.
The development comes in spite of pledges made by the club's board to support Gareth Ainsworth, who was appointed in a caretaker role immediately after Iain Dowie was sacked last month. Ainsworth's strong start has been soured by recent defeats to Burnley and Ipswich, and while the 35-year-old will stay at the club, it will be in a different role.
- Sousa, 38, played 51 times for Portugal, but he has little management experience – although he is presently assisting Carlos Queiroz with the Portuguese national team. Considering the club's Italian connection, through Flavio Briatore, the chairman, many will say that his qualification for the role comes via the virtue of having spent a large portion of his playing career with Juventus and Inter Milan.
- Briatore is believed to have considered former Italy manager Roberto Donadoni and former AC Milan centre-back Alessandro Costacurta for the position before deciding on Sousa, who is likely to be instated in time for Saturday's Championship visit to Watford. Telegraph

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