Steven Gerrard’s former assistant on flying high at QPR, his time in Brazil and wanting break new ground for British managers
Out past Hounslow, underneath the Heathrow flightpath, Queens Park Rangers are building something.
Three excellent pitches are in place at their new training ground, an unlovely building has been half-renovated to house the senior team but the grander structure which will replace it is under construction. Some days it gets so loud the players are dragged to the furthest pitch, so the coaches can make themselves heard.
Their message must be getting through. QPR will re-take top spot in the Championship with a win at Birmingham City on Friday and their over-achievement is being noticed. Last week, Wolves came calling for manager Michael Beale, despite a first-team managerial career of just 14 games.
On the night the story broke, QPR played Cardiff at Loftus Road in an oddly resigned atmosphere as supporters pondered losing their promising manager. On the bench a funny thing happened. Beale realised he was enjoying himself.