QPR's Mick Harford: The New Manager Talks

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QPR Official Site - HARFORD: 'THIS IS A TIME FOR FOCUS'
Posted on: Fri 15 Jan 2010
Mick Harford took charge of First Team affairs this morning following Paul Hart's decision to leave the Club with immediate effect late last night, and his prime objective is to get the players thinking about on-the-pitch matters.

"I am going to try and get the team back to winning ways, and get us climbing the table," he told www.qpr.co.uk.

"The team have only won once in their last ten, and that's something we need to look at."

Harford, 50, was brought in by Hart before Christmas and he explained how he heard the news of Hart's departure.

I got a phone call late last night asking me to take charge," he said. "It's something I have had to prepare quickly for because the main focus right now is getting the players ready for Saturday's game against Blackpool.

"It's a sad occasion with the Manager leaving his post but that happens in football. I have been given what I consider an opportunity to stake my claim for the job.

"I thought Paul did a great job in terms of organising the players and getting his team set out.

"He was great to work for and I really enjoyed my time with him. I am sad to see him go, but as a Football Club we have to move on.

"The Board have asked me to take charge of the team and I am very prepared to do that.

"I spoke with Paul last night as well as this morning. He enjoyed his brief time here and had a good rapport with the players and the staff.

"It is one of those unfortunate situations we find ourselves in."

With the league campaign only 24 games old, Harford insists the season is far from over for the R's - and promotion is still very much the target.

"We are only four points away from the play-offs," he pointed out.

"We've got two difficult away fixtures coming up against Blackpool and Nottingham Forest, and that's what we are preparing for.

"QPR got a great win up at Blackpool last season (3-0) and hopefully this weekend we can get a similar result."

It will be a real baptism of fire for Harford as he gets ready to face Ian Holloway's Tangerines at Bloomfield Road, and he admits preparation for the match hasn't been ideal.

"It has been very difficult to prepare for this game anyway because of the weather," he said.

"The players haven't really been able to spend too much time on the grass due to the snow. But we have got to be focused and we need to get the players back on track.

"We need to get the team organised."

Harford held a meeting with his players this morning prior to training, in order to keep the squad 'informed,' and now he is calling on his men to play to their capabilities against one of the surprise packages of the season.

"I have got trust in these players," he added.

"Earlier on in the season they went on a tremendous run, playing fantastic football.

"There is enough in our dressing room to get back to winning ways, and we need to do that as quickly as possible." QPR