QPR Places Manager Marti Cifuentes on Gardening Leave Amid West Brom Links

Queens Park Rangers have placed manager Marti Cifuentes on gardening leave just before their final Championship match, with assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm appointed as interim managers. The move follows QPR's heavy 5-0 defeat to Burnley and comes amid strong speculation linking Cifuentes to the vacant West Brom managerial position, with reports suggesting he or his representatives have held talks with the club. Cifuentes, who joined QPR in October 2023 when the team was struggling near the bottom of the table, successfully guided them to safety and an 18th-place finish. CEO Christian Nourry acknowledged fans’ frustrations and emphasized the club's commitment to resolving the situation swiftly to prepare for the future. Despite stabilizing the team, Cifuentes appears interested in new opportunities, and his departure reflects ongoing managerial turnover in the Championship. Both QPR and West Brom will remain in the division next season, with neither facing the threat of relegation or the chance of promotion.