Having always had a soft spot for Queens Park Rangers, without really knowing why, the last couple of years are bewildering to say the least.

Manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has endured a difficult start since taking charge of QPR, and hasn't been able to enjoy any consistency in terms of results. Victories have been followed by draws and defeats in the second tier, and the Londoners currently sit in 13th after 33 games, 13 points off a play-off place. They’ve won just nine games this season and are the biggest draw specialists in the division.

Despite replacing Chris Ramsey with Hasselbaink in December, QPR remain well off the play-off pace and now they are minus Charlie Austin, who left for Southampton recently.

Austin, 26, scored 18 goals for Rangers despite their relegation from the Premier League last season and went on to score 10 in 16 appearances in the Championship. Rather than lose him for nothing in the summer, the Super Hoops at least got some money for the striker.

Hasselbaink has taken on somewhat of a poisoned chalice. Ramsey came in to stabilise the club after Harry Redknapp's departure and while Harry did guide Queens Park Rangers to promotion to the Premier League at the start of the 2014/15 season, the Londoners endured a terrible time in the top flight.

At his time of departure, Redknapp stated that an imminent knee surgery was the main reason behind him leaving QPR, but many felt that the 68-year old left the club high and dry by departing amidst a relegation battle.b Now Redknapp’s assistant at QPR, Kevin Bond, has gone on to speak regarding the former Bournemouth manager’s departure and has stated that rather than health issues, the veteran boss decided to call it quits as he was left disillusioned at the club.

Bond said: “Our form at home was very, very good. Away from home was really poor and we couldn’t really find an answer. In the end, Harry didn’t really think he was getting anywhere so he called it a day. But I wouldn’t swap getting to the Premier League at Wembley for anything.”

Redknapp was seen as somewhat of a saviour after the big-spending days of Mark Hughes and the disaster that befell his squad. Big names, lured in for big money and bigger wages did not mean success and in November of 2012, after no wins in 12, Hughes was sacked. Chris Ramsey was sacked this season after relegation last year and a poor start to the current campaign. Instability followed by instability.

QPR have also had legal wrangles against the Football League by challenging "the legality of the Championship Financial Fair Play rules". The west London club are alleged to have spent more on salaries than rules allowed when they were in the Championship a couple of seasons ago.

Over the past few seasons, QPR have always bounced back from relegation to win promotion, but this year has been one to forget for the stuttering west Londoners.

It would seem as though, at this point, that Hasselbaink will be given more time than his predecessors in turning around the club's fortunes. The persistent attitude of sacking managers does not help a club and slowly but surely, Fernandes must be seeing that sticking with one man for a decent period of time might just be the way forward.

[ad_pod id='football-survey' align='center']

[ad_pod id='writeforus' align='center']