x

Magilton Named QPR Boss - Ipswich Town News

Former Town boss Jim Magilton has been named the new manager of QPR. Magilton, who was sacked by the Blues in April, has signed a two-year deal at Loftus Road.

News that Magilton was in the running for the QPR job first broke on the TWTD Message Board early last month when he underwent the first of a number of interviews.

Flavio Briatore, chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd, says Magilton beat off significant competition to land the job: "We had an incredibly high number of applicants, but Jim was the stand-out candidate for the role.

"We sat down with him on four separate occasions over the last month to discuss our goals and ambitions and he has really impressed myself, Mr Ecclestone, Mr Mittal and Mr Bhatia with his knowledge, understanding and passion for football.

"He did a very good job at Ipswich Town, playing some fine, attacking football, and he has great ambition to achieve in this next chapter of his managerial career. We are all really looking forward to working with him."

Magilton added: "I'm really looking forward to the challenge of managing this great football club.

"The board are highly ambitious, but they are very realistic at the same time. I have huge ambitions to achieve as a manager though, and our aim is to keep progressing, year after year.

"There is a very strong group of players at the club and, with one or two additions over the summer, we can expect to be in a position to drastically improve upon the eleventh place finish secured last season."

Magilton is expected to name an assistant manager with John Gorman likely to be amongst the candidates having fulfilled a similar role at Portman Road.

Elsewhere, former Town keeper James Pullen has signed a new contract with AFC Wimbledon, who he helped win promotion to the Blue Square Premier last season.

What to read next:

O'Shea, Taylor and Ogbene Win Caps in Irish Victory
Dara O’Shea, Jack Taylor and Chieo Ogbene added to their caps as the Republic of Ireland beat 10-man Armenia 1-0 in Dublin to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.
Ashton: Readjustment Takes a Bit of Time But I'd Like to Feel We've Come Through That
Chairman and CEO Mark Ashton believes the Blues have come through a period of readjustment following relegation to the Championship and have begun to gain momentum over the last few weeks.
Chenery: Loans Are Really Important
Academy manager Ben Chenery believes loan moves play an important role in a young player’s development.
Chenery: We're an Attractive Option For These Players
Town academy manager Ben Chenery says the Blues will look to recruit more players in the mould of Tudor Mendel, Somto Boniface and Luca Fletcher.
Blues Irish Quartet Could Win Caps
Town quartet Dara O’Shea, Kasey McAteer, Jack Taylor and Chieo Ogbene could all add to their international caps when the Republic of Ireland host Armenia in a World Cup qualifier in Dublin this evening (KO 7.45pm, Amazon Prime).
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Chenery: Old-School Values Are Important
Ben Chenery took over as Town’s academy manager over the summer, following Dmitri Halajko’s elevation to director of football operations, and TWTD spoke to him about his first few months in the job as the Blues’ youth set-up stepped up to category one.
Chenery: If You're Good Enough, You'll Get Your Opportunity
Town’s U21s have made an impressive start to life in Premier League 2, but is there a pathway into the first-team set-up? TWTD spoke to new academy manager Ben Chenery.
Davis: The New Lads Have Settled in Quickly
Town defender Leif Davis says the senior members of the Blues squad have worked hard to ensure all the club’s summer signings have settled into the group.
Town Women Lose to Birmingham
Ipswich Town Women were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by a confident Birmingham City side at the Colchester JobServe Community Stadium this afternoon, their second successive WSL2 defeat.