Tony Fernandes refused to back Harry Redknapp over a deadline day deal for Ghana striker Andre Ayew. Redknapp quit yesterday, maintaining he had had no issues with the QPR owner despite failing to land a single player on the final day of the transfer window.
Fernandes in turn maintained the 67-year-old ’s departure had been amicable. The Malaysian claimed just two weeks ago that Redknapp was “the best man to get us out of the position we currently find ourselves in.”
But Mirror Sport understands Fernandes himself refused to sign off on a deal that would have seen 25-year-old Ayew join the club and ease the pressure on leading striker Charlie Austin. Contrary to suggestions that Ayew had turned the Hoops down, the striker - who has 60 caps for his country - was actually offered to QPR.
The club initially agreed to take him - only for Fernandes to veto the deal. Fernandes then went on to social media with his now well-documented “No more cheque book” tweet suggesting it was down to Redknapp to get more out of his existing squad.
QPR have been grossly mismanaged over the last few years - the blame for which falls on Redknapp and Fernandes - but there's no denying the fact that a proven player like Andre Ayew would have improved the current QPR squad, especially looking at the failed striker scramble on Monday (more on this later). QPR are languishing at the bottom of the table, in relegation form and fans putting up their tickets on sale on 1st4footballtickets.com website instead of turning up to watch the dross the team serves up.
Surely this meant QPR had to unload players or find new options? The current TV deal and the expected new TV deal make Premier League survival a very lucrative business, and relegation will not help QPR's financial situation one bit.
Anyhow, the collapse of the deal sparked a miserable Deadline Day for Redknapp who was then turned down by the likes of Adebayor on Monday morning, Carlton Cole on Monday afternoon and Aaron Lennon on Monday night. In each case the players felt Rangers’ prospects of staying in the Premier League looked too bleak. Meanwhile, it is believed Glenn Hoddle followed Redknapp out of the club after realising he would not be considered as the 67-year-old’s replacement.
Where will QPR go from here? Right now they're only headed in one direction...