Queens Park Rangers is eagerly anticipating a change in their managerial position following a surprising departure at Birmingham City. This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, offering personal opinions from FLW Fan Pundits regarding breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings, and more.
The managerial carousel is currently in full swing, and the unexpected exit at St. Andrew’s could potentially trigger a shift at Queens Park Rangers.
Over the past 18 months, QPR has experienced a decline in their performance under their current manager, Gareth Ainsworth. The West London team now finds itself in the relegation zone, with Ainsworth, the former Wycombe Wanderers manager, only managing to secure five victories out of 25 matches since his appointment in February.
While there have been some notable wins against Cardiff City and Middlesbrough, QPR is in dire need of a new direction and a renewed sense of belief if they hope to avoid dropping to the third tier for the first time since 2004.
The recent departure of John Eustace from Birmingham City has sparked discussions about where he might go next, with rumors suggesting a possible move to QPR. The question arises: would John Eustace be a suitable fit for Queens Park Rangers?
Eustace’s departure has come as a surprise to many outside of the Birmingham City sphere, as the club was enjoying one of its best spells in years under the former Watford man, with the team sitting in the top six.
As a result, it seems unlikely that the 43-year-old Eustace will remain without a job for long. QPR fan pundit Louis Moir is an admirer of their former assistant manager and expressed his thoughts exclusively to Football League World. Moir stated, “Considering Ainsworth, I can’t believe he hasn’t been replaced yet, but in my opinion, John Eustace is a strong candidate for the job. Look at what he has achieved—when he took over Birmingham, they were struggling, and he has transformed their style of play this season, with the team currently in the playoff places.”
Moir also mentioned that Eustace was well-liked by the players during his tenure as the assistant manager under Warburton, and there are still many players in the current squad who worked with him. However, he does question whether Eustace would be willing to return to a club that turned him down when Warburton departed.
Moir concluded, “He might not be at the top of my list, but he would be an excellent replacement, and I believe he’ll secure a new job very soon. We just need to part ways with Ainsworth. I’d be thrilled if we could bring in John Eustace, although I’m not entirely convinced it will happen.”
What were John Eustace’s achievements at Birmingham City?
After leaving his role within the QPR coaching staff at the end of the 2021/22 season, Eustace quickly took up the position of head coach at Birmingham for the following season.
Despite being considered favorites for relegation, Eustace, a native of Solihull, successfully guided Birmingham away from the drop, securing a 17th-place finish with a nine-point cushion above the relegation zone. He achieved this with 14 wins, which were sufficient to maintain their Championship status.
With new ownership and a fresh chapter for Birmingham City during the summer, the club experienced a resurgence, currently sitting in sixth place as they entered the October international break. Eustace’s departure, under these circumstances, remains somewhat perplexing, as Birmingham prepares for their next managerial appointment, which has yet to be confirmed.
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