Harry Redknapp: I would have quit management if QPR hadn't been promoted

QPR boss Harry Redknapp holding the Championship trophy

QPR boss Harry Redknapp confessed that he would have most likely retired from management if he failed to guide his club back to the Premier League.

The 67-year-old remains a manager courtesy of a Bobby Zamora goal against Derby County which helped QPR return to the Premier League.

The former West Ham United and Tottenham manager was quoted as saying: “I never lost my hunger, if I had, I would have packed up. But I’m looking forward to next year, there’s a real excitement now for me.

‘If we hadn’t have gone up it would have been different. I don’t know what I’d have done, I think maybe I’d have called it a day. But, looking forward to the Premier League, I really can’t wait now.”

QPR are sure to be active in the transfer market this season as Redknapp himself admitted that his squad needs some new faces.

Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, who were given their debuts by Redknapp during their time at West Ham, have been identified as top targets by the QPR manager who stated that he would prefer to sign English players rather than foreign ones who will be appearing in the World Cup and will most likely be targets of top clubs.

“I really don’t see myself getting involved [during the World Cup],’ he added. ‘If someone jumps out at you then you know every club in the country is going to be the same. It can be a mug’s game.

‘We’ve seen players before who have come in and not done well when people have bought them out of a World Cup. So, I just want to sit back on my sofa and enjoy the football.

“QPR have been down that road before and come unstuck, bringing in an awful lot of players from abroad and who took a lot of money and weren’t really into the club and understanding what’s wanted. I think it’s important now that I look in this country as much as possible to improve the squad.

“We’ve got a good chance to do that. We’ve got lots of players out of contract so there is room to bring some players in and that is what we’re looking to do. There’s the nucleus of a team but I’d be a liar if I sat here and said it’s ok. We need to strengthen the squad quite a bit.”

Redknapp also stated that he has become a better manager after dealing with relegation and insists that he now aims to stay in the top flight for the long haul and isn’t interested in competing with Hull City who have played some good football since returning from relegation.

“No, just a league run,’ he laughs. ‘Staying in the league [is the goal] you can forget the rest. Establishing the club in the Premier League is tough but that’s the aim.”

QPR will need to start looking for new players quickly as Julio Cesar and Loic Remy are set to leave Loftus Road.