QPR make huge Marti Cifuentes announcement amid West Brom new manager updates
West Brom’s hunt for a new manager has taken another twist ahead of their final game of the Championship season.
After the Baggies sacked Tony Mowbray for his failure to keep the club in the playoffs, all eyes have turned to who the club will appoint next.
Rumours have linked former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil to West Brom, but this would no doubt be a controversial appointment.
Another name linked with the Baggies is QPR’s Marti Cifuentes, with a major development being announced on Tuesday.
Cifuentes “placed on gardening leave” amid West Brom rumours
Cifuentes has been brilliant at QPR since he took over the club in October 2023.
The club looked destined for relegation when he took over, but he has now guided the club to safety in back-to-back seasons.
This has prompted rumours that numerous clubs are looking to pinch the Spaniard from the London side this summer.
| Marti Cifuentes record at QPR | |
| Games managed | 82 |
| Wins | 27 |
| Draws | 24 |
| Losses | 31 |
| Win percentage | 32.93 per cent |
West Brom have been deemed as one of the favourites to appoint Cifuentes after the bookies recently slashed the odds on the potential appointment.
Now, his move to the Baggies seems closer than ever when QPR’s Official social media account (29 April) announced that he be taking “garden leave” and his coaching staff would prepare the club for their final match against Sunderland.
The announcement said: “Martí Cifuentes has been placed on gardening leave.
“Assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm will take charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis and prepare the squad for our final fixture of the 2024/25 campaign against Sunderland.”
Cifuentes would transform West Brom if appointed
At QPR, Cifuentes completely transformed the London side. Under Gareth Ainsworth, the club looked lost, but the Spaniard managed to put belief back into the team.
This is exactly what is needed at West Brom. The club proved that they can be amongst the top sides in this division earlier this season when they sat top of the league.
Now, the Baggies need someone like Cifuentes to come in and install this belief once more and transform them back into a top-six team.
Promotion is needed sooner rather than later, especially with the gap between the Premier League and the Championship getting wider as each year passes.
Hopefully, the club can get the appointment of Cifuentes over the line quickly to give him as much time as possible to build a top-six squad this summer.