Lee Hoos and Les Ferdinand must admit they made big QPR mistake after "surreal" appointment | OneFootball

Despite his previous connections with the club, the appointment of Gareth Ainsworth proved to be a disaster for QPR.

Gareth Ainsworth was a hugely popular figure at Queens Park Rangers during his playing days, but his spell as a manager at Loftus Road was certainly one to forget.

After a long spell in charge of Wycombe Wanderers, Ainsworth left his role at Adams Park to take over at QPR in February 2023, and he became the club's third manager of the 2022-23 season following the departures of Michael Beale and Neil Critchley.

The season had initially promised so much for the R's after a strong start under Beale, but he controversially walked out on the club in November to join Rangers, and his replacement Critchley lasted just over two months before being sacked after winning only one of his 12 games in charge.

The Hoops were not quite in a relegation battle when Critchley was dismissed, but they were plummeting down the table at an alarming rate, and then chief executive Lee Hoos and director of football Les Ferdinand would have hoped that Ainsworth would instill the necessary fight in the team to help keep them clear of any danger.

However, while Ainsworth did manage to retain QPR's Championship status, it is fair to say that his tenure was a disaster from start to finish, and supporters will still blame Hoos and Ferdinand for making a serious managerial mistake.

Ainsworth scored 22 goals and provided six assists in 151 appearances during a six-year spell at QPR as a player, and as well as becoming a firm fan favourite, he also served on the coaching staff under Iain Dowie and Paulo Sousa, while he even had two spells as caretaker manager during the 2008-09 season.

However, Ainsworth's appointment at Loftus Road was based on more than just mere sentiment as he did an outstanding job during more than a decade in charge of Wycombe, and the 52-year-old even managed to lead the Chairboys to the Championship at one stage, despite taking over in 2012 with the club languishing towards the bottom of League Two.

Ainsworth was known for being an emotional and passionate character during his time at Adams Park, and he spoke of his pride after returning to QPR as manager, admitting that it was a strange feeling to be back at the club where he enjoyed so many special moments as a player.

"This is all a little bit surreal," Ainsworth told the club's official website.

"It has been a whirlwind two days and leaving Wycombe Wanderers was very tough because of the connection there.

"But this is QPR and when I spoke about something special forcing me away from Wycombe, this was pretty special.

"It’s the club where I was most known for playing and you get moments in your career that resonate with you forever.

"I loved my time here as a player and hopefully I can go on and love my time here as a manager as well.

"I really want to challenge myself. This is going to be a real challenge because the club is so special to me, and so huge as well.

"I want to get Loftus Road absolutely rocking again and I hope the fans will get right behind me and right behind the team.

"To be trusted by the Board here and those above me, I want to be able to pay them back in droves. I will be giving my absolute everything for this football club."

Gareth Ainsworth's QPR dream quickly turned into a nightmare

Ainsworth may have been full of optimism after his return to Loftus Road, but the red flags were there right from the start of his tenure as he lost his opening two games against Blackburn Rovers and Rotherham United, and while he picked up his first win at the third attempt against Watford, it would prove to be only a brief moment of respite.

The R's went on to pick up just two points from their next seven games as they were dragged into the battle for survival, and that run included a humiliating 6-1 defeat at Blackpool and a damaging 1-0 loss to relegation rivals Wigan Athletic.

Those results created serious doubts among the Hoops fanbase about whether Ainsworth was the right man for the job, and with the threat of League One football looming, it seems the board shared those concerns, with reports emerging towards the end of the season that Ajax coach Michael Reiziger was under consideration to replace the 52-year-old.

However, just as it looked as though Ainsworth could be facing the sack, he led QPR to surprise back-to-back away victories over champions Burnley and Stoke City, and his side eventually finished the season in 20th place, six points clear of the relegation zone, although the gap would only have been one point if Reading had not received a six-point deduction.

Despite many supporters calling for a managerial change in the summer, Ainsworth was allowed to remain in charge at Loftus Road, and while the following season began with an emphatic 4-0 defeat at Watford, wins at Cardiff City and Middlesbrough over the next few weeks, as well as evidence of a slightly more progressive style of play, suggested that the club's fortunes were improving.

Unfortunately for Ainsworth, those victories turned out to be little more than a false dawn, and after a horror run of six consecutive defeats, he was sacked in late October after just over eight months at the helm, departing with the club sitting second bottom of the Championship table, six points adrift of safety.

That gave his successor, Marti Cifuentes, a mountain to climb if he was to keep the R's in the division, and although he somehow managed to defy the odds and guide his side to survival, it took virtually play-off form in the second half of the season to avoid the drop.

After a brief spell at Shrewsbury Town, Ainsworth is currently rebuilding his managerial reputation with Gillingham in League Two, but his nightmare reign at QPR will forever haunt R's supporters, and Hoos and Ferdinand will always be held responsible for his appointment.