"We can do a lot better" - QPR urged to look past 50-year-old manager candidate; Huddersfield would be a better fit | OneFootball

The R's may end up battling with the Terriers over the Northern Irishman.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson has been linked with Queens Park Rangers - as well as other EFL clubs - as they search for a replacement for Marti Cifuentes.

While the Spaniard is still technically employed by QPR, his current gardening leave status effectively renders his reign at Loftus Road over, and the R's will be on the hunt for a new boss.

Robinson has been one of the first names to be concretely linked with the position, as per a report from The Sun.

The former Morecambe and Oldham Athletic manager, who has led St Mirren to sixth in the Scottish Premiership at this point of the campaign, is also said to be a target for League One side Huddersfield Town, where he is a leading candidate.

The Northern Irishman is under contract until the summer of 2027 - a contract that would require any interested club to pay "significant compensation" in order to get Robinson out of it.

QPR told that they can do better than St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson

For Football League World's QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, Robinson doesn't do much to stir any positive emotions.

The Northern Irish boss has never managed at QPR's level; almost the entirety of his success in his coaching career has come north of the border.

"For me, I'm always a bit wary about people coming from the Scottish league, whether it's players or managers," Moir told FLW.

"It might be a bit of a negative response to the Scottish league and Scottish football, and there have been good players that have come from Scotland, but, looking at him and his win percentages, there's nothing to shout about.

"He seemingly has done a very good job at St Mirren, but it might not take a lot of quality to employ your tactics up there - it might not take a lot to improve a side in that division.

"He's being linked with League One jobs such as Huddersfield, so that could be where he could do a good job for the club, in the third tier, if he moved to England. I just don't think it's something that would fit QPR. I think we have to be looking at better options.

"It's a name that doesn't fill me with much excitement. Like I said, looking at his overall win percentage, it's nothing to shout about.

"Obviously he's had experience in the EFL, but look at the clubs that he's had experience with: Oldham and Morecambe.

"I just think we can do a lot better than that, and with that sort of name being linked, I just don't think he'd be someone that would fit the model we're looking to go with.

"I think it's a name that has maybe been plucked out of thin air, as we're looking for a manager. I don't think there's much serious interest in that, personally, and I wouldn't be excited by that whatsoever.

QPR need stability, not uncertainty - Stephen Robinson would be more of the latter

The decision to appoint Cifuentes was risky, similar to what it would be if QPR were to pursue Robinson.

The Spaniard had no experience of working in England, let alone the EFL. The difference comes when you look at the success that he had with Hammerby IF compared to what the Northern Irishman has done in his career.

Yes, it is hard to win league titles and qualify for Europe with the likes of St Mirren when you're up against the two Glaswegian powerhouses every season - the last team not named Celtic or Rangers to win the Scottish first division was Aberdeen in 1985, when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge.

Even still, with the disadvantage he is at compared to the top two, Robinson hasn't wowed so much that you can easily look past his previous EFL history.

Appointing him would be a gamble. Some of those, like Cifuentes, are worth taking. Now isn't the time for QPR to be messing about with their Championship status, because they can lose it very quickly.