Luigi de Canio left Queens Park Rangers because he was desperate to return to Italy to be with his family.

His departure could see a return to Loftus Road for Iain Dowie, who is thought to be on the shortlist to succeed the Italian.

It is understood De Canio held a number of meetings with senior Rangers officials on Monday, less than 24 hours after the club ended the season against West Brom.

The 50-year-old, whose wife and daughter live in Italy, became homesick after losing his father in February and suffering a mugging shortly before the game with Preston in April.

De Canio struggled to learn English, relying heavily on a translator to communicate to the players, but had only told his close friends of his decision to leave Loftus Road. The players only heard the news yesterday via TV reports and were sent on their end of season holidays believing De Canio would still be in charge next season.

"Nothing was said in the dressing room after the game on Sunday," said striker Patrick Agyemang. "I was injured so I wasn't in the squad but the boys told me little was said afterwards. "Everyone liked him - he was a good coach. The only problem was the language barrier. He would be shouting passionately in Italian but couldn't get his point across."

The club are not commenting on a replacement but are set to make a quick appointment with unemployed Dowie - who played for QPR from 1998-2001 and had a brief spell as caretaker-boss - in the frame.

He guided Crystal Palace to promotion in 2004 but has since had unsuccessful spells in charge of Charlton and Coventry.