QPR places Cifuentes on gardening leave amid managerial speculation

Queens Park Rangers have placed manager Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave just days before their final Championship match against Sunderland, amid increasing speculation linking him to vacant managerial positions at West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City. Assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm will take interim charge of the team for the season finale. The move follows reports of Cifuentes' representatives holding talks with West Brom, although QPR reportedly had not authorized these discussions. QPR chief executive Christian Nourry acknowledged the disappointing nature of the situation and emphasized efforts to resolve it swiftly to commence future planning. Cifuentes, who joined QPR in October 2023 and helped steer the club away from relegation, had expressed satisfaction with his role but admitted to ambitions for improvement. The club now faces the task of stabilizing leadership ahead of next season.