Sam Allardyce in the frame to replace Luigi De Canio at Queens Park Rangers

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The mega-rich owners of QPR plan to appoint an English manager after announcing that first-team coach Luigi De Canio left by 'mutual consent' last night.

Reports last weekend that Zinedine Zidane was set to be unveiled were dismissed by QPR chairman Gianni Paladini.

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Instead, wealthy co-owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone — backed by the family of Lakshmi Mittal, the world's fifth richest man — believe an experienced home-grown manager is best equipped to lead QPR back to the top flight.

Former England boss Steve McClaren and ex-Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce are understood to be interested in taking over, while Steve Cotterill and Iain Dowie have also been linked with the job.

Allardyce has been spotted at several QPR games recently and landing the job ahead of McClaren, who pipped him to the England post, would provide a modicum of revenge.

For McClaren, leading QPR to promotion backed by massive funds would restore his battered reputation.

Despite claims by both parties that De Canio's departure was by mutual consent, the 50-year-old Italian admitted he had been stunned by the decision.

He said: 'We were speaking about many things. We did not agree about everything and there were some small problems. It is a shame. I came here when QPR were bottom of the table and there was the fear of relegation in the air. I feel I did a good job at QPR.'

 

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