Julien Stéphan joined QPR as a replacement for Martí Cifuentes in the summer and is nearing the end of his debut season.

The London club finished 15th in the table last season and is now aiming for a top-half position in 2026.

The distance to the play-off places is 10 points with only seven games remaining, which may be too much to close in the final weeks of the season.

However, two consecutive wins in their fixtures prior to the March international break improved the mood around the club following a brief losing streak.

Stéphan’s position is not under threat, and the Hoops are hopeful he will be the guy to lead them back to the Premier League in the long run.

QPR have not competed in the top flight since 2015, with their highest finish being ninth in 2021.

Tim Sherwood opens the door for QPR move.

Tim Sherwood has hinted that if Stéphan leaves, he may manage QPR in the future, alleging that he once turned down the opportunity to take over the club.

He lauded the current manager’s efforts to develop young players, but acknowledged that he was close to taking on the post years before joining Aston Villa.

“You [Stephan] are bringing young players through. I had the opportunity to go there in the past but chose Aston Villa instead, when Les Ferdinand — a friend of mine — was the sporting director,” Sherwood told Sky Sports.

“I’ve always wanted that job because I figured with the tight ground and everyone on top of you, you could have it bouncing if you got some results.

“Never say never.”

Sherwood has formerly managed Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, with his spell at Villa Park ending in October 2015.

He played 28 games for both clubs, winning 24 times in total, with the Midlands club being relegated from the Premier League in 2015/16.

A bad start to the season established the groundwork for their 20th-place finish, and Rémi Garde oversaw the confirmation of their relegation.

As an interim coach, the 57-year-old led Spurs to sixth place, with his most famous contribution being the development of Harry Kane through the youth system.

Meanwhile, QPR are now 12th in the Championship league, 10 points behind sixth-place Southampton with just seven games remaining.

Before the March international break, the Hoops defeated Leicester City and Portsmouth, scoring nine goals and allowing two.

During the run-in, they will be aiming for their first top-half finish since 2021, with their first game back at home against Watford on April 3rd.

Tim Sherwood’s term as manager is passed.
If QPR required a new manager shortly and hired Sherwood, there is little question that it would not go well with fans.

His little coaching experience is not especially fascinating, with his teams playing a fairly basic style of football that produced inconsistent results.

The former midfielder has also not worked as a coach in nearly a decade, and the game has evolved dramatically over that time, so his methods have fallen even farther out of favor.

Stéphan is doing well right now, and his position should be secure heading into the summer, but Sherwood’s appointment underscores how much worse things could get for the Hoops.