Football
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QPR confirm Chris Ramsey will continue as manager this season

Chris Ramsey has been appointed Queens Park Rangers manager until the end of the season, the club has confirmed.

Multiple reports reported the news a day earlier, with QPR finally issuing a statement on Friday.

Ramsey has led Rangers since Harry Redknapp resigned last week. He led Rangers to their first away points of the campaign with a 2-0 win at Sunderland on Tuesday night.

The 52-year-old will continue to work with first-team coach Kevin Bond under director of football Les Ferdinand.

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes told the club's official website: "In the wake of Harry Redknapp's resignation, it was my desire to identify the right individual for the job and at this time, we believe Chris is the ideal candidate.

"He has impressed everyone here in his short time in charge and I firmly believe he is the right man -- working closely with Les -- to lead us until the end of the season.

"Chris has an opportunity now to stamp his authority and class on the position. He is part of our long-term plans at QPR."

Fernandes said on Tuesday he was close to securing his "dream manager" but he confimed that deal has fallen through.

Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood had been widely expected to fill the vacancy, then Michael Laudrup led speculation, while Derby manager Steve McClaren and Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement were also linked with the post.

Fernandes added: "A lot has been written and said about the position, including by myself, but the decision has been taken to defer the permanent appointment until the end of the season.

"We spoke to many individuals who were interested in the role, one of whom I was quoted on as being a dream, but none of them were right to take the club forward at this time for a variety of reasons, whereas we firmly believe Chris is."

QPR midfielder Joey Barton threw his support behind Ramsey, tweeting on Thursday:

Ferdinand brought Ramsey to Loftus Road as academy manager in October after the pair had previously enjoyed a close relationship working at Tottenham.

QPR lost 1-0 at home to Southampton on Saturday in Ramsey's first game in charge but three days later beat Sunderland to climb out of the bottom three.

After the win, Fernandes tweeted:

Prior to the game at the Stadium of Light, Ramsey had declared his interest in taking the job full-time.

Ramsey said: "As a coach and someone who has gone the long route round, if I got offered the chance to manage a Premier League team I'd jump at the chance."

Rangers are currently 17th in the table and above the relegation zone on goal difference with 13 games remaining.

"Premier League survival is our priority in the short term, but in the medium and long term we want to make sure everything is in place, from the Academy upwards, to create a lasting legacy and philosophy at QPR," Fernandes said.

Earlier on Friday, QPR announced the resignation of chief executive Philip Beard, who cited "recent senior management changes" as the catalyst behind his decision.

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