Queens Park Rangers are expected to announce Iain Dowie as their new manager on Wednesday.

It is understood that the 43-year-old has agreed a two-year deal to succeed Italian Luigi De Canio.

Dowie, who has managed Coventry, Charlton, Crystal Palace and Oldham, is likely to be given funds to strengthen the squad and is discussing the possibility of bringing in his own backroom staff.

Rangers chairman Flavio Briatore is believed to have been in lengthy discussions last weekend with Dowie, who has been in Dubai working for a TV station covering the final matches of the Premier League season. The news came as Rangers agreed terms for two Premier League players - although they are not considered Dowie's first signings.

The club have announced the capture of Newcastle defender Peter Ramage and on-loan Tottenham goalkeeper Radek Cerny. Ramage, 24, has agreed a three-year deal while 34-year-old Cerny, who is currently contracted to Slavia Prague, will sign a two-year deal.

The pair will formally become Rangers players on 1 July when their contracts run out and although the two signings were discussed with Dowie, moves had been made for the duo based on a list drawn up by sporting director Gianni Paladini and De Canio.
Club officials were keen to appoint an English-speaking boss after the language problems De Canio encountered in his six-month tenure at W12.

De Canio struggled to communicate with players as striker Patrick Agyemang told Standard Sport last week.

He said: "The only problem was the language barrier. He would be shouting in Italian but couldn't get his point across."

Dowie had a brief stint as caretaker boss at Rangers in 1998, taking charge in two matches and remaining unbeaten and his return to London may anger Palace chairman Simon Jordan.

Dowie left Palace by mutual consent in 2006 with Jordan believing he would leave the capital - only for him to be appointed Charlton boss eight days later.

Jordan won a High Court case over the issue, although Dowie has won the right to appeal.

Meanwhile, Rangers full-back Damien Delaney is celebrating his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the matches against Serbia and Colombia later this month.