Next QPR manager potential candidates

We assess the frontrunners to take charge at Queens Park Rangers with Marti Cifuentes seemingly remaining on gardening leave for the foreseeable future.

Potential candidates

Tom Cleverley

With 59 games as manager, Tom Cleverley was actually Watford's third longest-serving manager in 13 years but a run of just five league wins in 2025 led to his dismissal.

Cleverley was initially handed the job on a full-time basis after a run of just one defeat in seven matches in the wake of Valerien Ismael's departure.

2024-25 started well at Vicarage Road with the Hornets just four points off the playoffs in March, but unfortunately for Cleverley he could not guide his team to a top six finish.

The 35-year-old was a popular head coach at Watford with fans of the club viewing his sacking as harsh.

With his team heavily tipped for relegation at the beginning of the campaign, the majority of supporters saw this season as a step in the right direction.

Gary O'Neil

Gary O'Neil was dismissed by Wolves in December after a tricky start to the season but the 41-year-old had attracted praise for the way he had gone about the job up until that point.

The Midlands club reached the FA Cup quarter-final as well as achieving a 14th place finish in the Premier League in his first campaign.

This built on the reputation he had carved during his first job at Bournemouth where O'Neil avoided relegation after winning five of the last seven matches in the league that season.

Richie Wellens

Currently manager at League One side Leyton Orient, Richie Wellens narrowly lost out on Championship promotion with his current club after suffering defeat in the playoff final to Charlton.

Despite the loss, Wellens has still done an excellent job at Brisbane Road after leading his side to the League Two title in 2022-23.

Salford City appointed Wellens as manager in November 2020 with the partnership enduring mixed success on the field.

The former Leicester City player guided Salford to victory in the EFL Trophy before parting ways by mutual consent just nine days later.