QPR's Sousa Set to Be Axed? Compilation of Press Stories Saying On The Verge

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This is London/James Olley - Paulo Sousa’s facing the sack after crisis talks with Queens Park Rangers
- Paulo Sousa is set to be sacked as Queens Park Rangers manager over Easter.
- Chairman Flavio Briatore, sporting director Gianni Paladini and Sousa have held a series of crisis talks this week following the sudden departure of assistant boss Bruno Oliviera on Monday.
- Standard Sport understands the 38-year-old former Juventus and Inter Milan midfielder is reluctant to walk away but Loftus Road chiefs are looking to avoid a sizeable pay-off for a manager given a two-and-a-half year contract only last November.
- Gareth Ainsworth, who became part of Sousa's coaching staff after a spell as caretaker boss following Iain Dowie's exit, is likely to take temporary charge.
- Bristol City manager Gary Johnson is thought to be among the early front runners to take the job permanently in the summer.
- No more talks are scheduled for today and Sousa took training this morning as usual, but an announcement is expected this weekend over the termination of the Portuguese's contract.
- Briatore will attend Rangers' match at Burnley on Saturday before the visit of Sheffield Wednesday 48 hours later. The Italian, who is also boss of Formula One team Renault, is thought to want a conclusion before Tuesday as he is expected to attend an FIA hearing in Paris.
- Sousa was appointed with the brief of taking Rangers into the play-offs with a more entertaining brand of football. But he has earned just seven wins in 26 games and has had his authority undermined by the sacking of his No2 Oliviera — for which the club gave no reason whatsoever.


SKYSPORTS - Sousa: Facing the axe
- Skysports.com understands manager Paulo Sousa is on the verge of being axed by Queens Park Rangers.
- The 38-year-old's position has come under scrutiny in the last few days after he claimed Dexter Blackstock's recent loan move to Nottingham Forest was organised without his knowledge.
- Speculation over Sousa's long-term future intensified after his assistant manager, Bruno Oliviera was sacked on Monday.
- The club's board are thought to have held crisis talks with Sousa in the last 24 hours and it seems likely he will be leaving Loftus Road.
- Sousa succeeded Iain Dowie last November, but has only won seven matches since being appointed." Sky Sports


The Mirror - QPR on brink of sacking flop boss Paolo Sousa- Qpr chiefs were last night in crisis talks over Paolo Sousa's future.
- And Rangers co-owner Flavio Briatore is very close to sacking the first-team coach
- Former Portuguese international Sousa, 38, has only won seven matches since being appointed last November." The Mirror


- BBC Gossip: "QPR boss Paulo Sousa is on the verge of being sacked after his position at the club was weakened by the termination of assistant manager Bruno Oliveira's contract on Monday. (Various) " BBC Gossip


- Daily Mail (Cited by Teamtalk) " QPR's senior players are convinced boss Paul Sousa will be forced out of Loftus Road this week." Teamtalk


Telegraph/Sandy Macaskill
- Paulo Sousa's time as Queens Park Rangers manager looks set to end
Pressure was mounting on Queens Park Rangers manager Paulo Sousa last night.
- Only days after the Portuguese revealed Dexter Blackstock’s recent loan move to Nottingham Forest was organised without his knowledge, rumours were circulating that Sousa will be removed before the end of the season.
- That his assistant manager, Bruno Oliviera, was sacked on Monday reinforces the suggestion that his days are numbered.
- Telegraph Sport understands that the board had not come to an official decision on the future of the former Juventus and Inter Milan midfielder on Wednesday evening, but nevertheless, the 38-year-old’s position has become increasingly vulnerable after failing to achieve specific directives set out to him on his arrival, namely securing the club a position in the play-offs.
- Sousa succeeded Iain Dowie in November amid promises that he would bring attractive attacking football to Loftus Road, but since then his side have managed just seven wins from 26 games, taking them to a mid-table position seven points outside of the play-off zone.
- With just five games left in the season, it is distinctly unlikely that they will stand a chance of promotion to the Premier League this year.
- Two separate events in the last seven days have undermined his influence at the club: the sacking of his assistant Oliviera and the board’s decision to send Blackstock on loan.
- He was only told about the striker’s loan deal by Gianni Paladini, the sporting director, once an agreement with Forest had been reached.
- Last month Flavio Briatore, the club chairman, gave his assurance that Sousa would not be sacked in the summer, but Gareth Ainsworth received similar public guarantees before he was replaced.
- Should Sousa be sacked, Ainsworth could be called on to stand in once again. Telgraph


The Sun/Charlie Wyett - Thursday, April 9, 2009 -Sousa fears axe from Flavio
- PAULO SOUSA faces the chop at QPR after a bust-up with the club’s mega-rich owners.
- Loftus Road boss Sousa infuriated his paymasters by revealing he is no longer in charge of team affairs at the club.
- The former Portuguese star, 38, went public after Saturday’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace revealing 12-goal top-scorer Dexter Blackstock had been loaned to Nottingham Forest without his knowledge.
- Sousa insisted he only found out about Blackstock’s shock exit from Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini — but his comments angered co-owner Flavio Briatore.
- Sousa was already under pressure after failing to make a big impression since replacing the sacked Iain Dowie in November.
- But Briatore hit the roof when he discovered Sousa had revealed the club’s boardroom secrets and the Rangers boss now fears he will be sacked.
- Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson was sounded out about a job last summer and would be a candidate to replace Sousa, along with former Blackburn chief Paul Ince. The Sun

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