Exclusive: David Prutton reacts when asked how much more time QPR will give Marti Cifuentes | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit David Prutton spoke exclusively to Football League World about QPR and Marti Cifuentes

Marti Cifuentes' first full season in charge of QPR has yielded a mid-table finish in the Championship, after the head coach pulled the side away from the threat of relegation to League One in the 2023/24 campaign.

The R's currently reside in 15th position and are poised to see out the campaign in the middle of the pack, with brief hopes of threatening to knock on the door for a potential play-off push fizzling out in recent months.

QPR have struggled for consistency, winning just two of their last eleven matches. They have not won at home, meanwhile, since the 4-0 thrashing of John Eustace's Derby County on February 14.

It's not exactly clear just how competitive QPR can expect to be in 2025/26.

There has not been much evidence, it must be said, to suggest that Cifuentes' side can realistically contend for promotion, but they will be looking to ascend next term after establishing themselves in mid-table.

David Prutton drops claim involving Marti Cifuentes' QPR future

Football League World asked Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert David Prutton how much longer he believes Cifuentes has to turn things around in what has been a mixed season at QPR, and whether the club's hierarchy will have designs for a play-off push next time out.

In Prutton's view, QPR should be aspiring to compete for the top-six. Should that be where the club set their sights for the following campaign, Cifuentes is going to have to pick up.

“It’s turned into a season of no real jeopardy for QPR, reflected in that defeat to Swansea with a couple of games left,” Prutton explained when speaking exclusively to FLW.

“From a squad depth and quality point of view, mid-table is probably where they should be.

“Looking at a play-off push, there’ll be big teams coming down ready to go again so we’ll see how the back-end of this season finishes in regards to who is in the play-offs.

“There will be teams with more momentum, potentially, and given how this season may end for some of these big clubs, we’ll see what the mix is going into next season.

“But QPR are a bit of a head-scratcher. I’m not saying the fans are long-suffering, I wouldn’t go as far as that, but given their inability to really make gains at the top-end - the last couple of seasons have been about getting to some form of safety first and foremost - I would sense the frustration.

“It’s a club with recent Premier League experience and given the ticket to the promised land is becoming more and more valuable, it’s definitely something they should be aiming towards.”

Marti Cifuentes will need transfer backing at QPR

If Cifuentes is the man to lead QPR up the table and into potential play-off contention, the hierarchy will need to show their faith and backing by supporting him in the transfer market.

The R's tend to operate on a modest budget these days, although Cifuentes was backed to some extent both last summer and then in January by signing the likes of Jonathan Varane, Harvey Vale and Karamoko Dembele.

However, their budget does not scratch the surface compared to most teams in and around the top-six mix at this moment in time, and increased transfer backing may be what's required to take that next step under the Spanish boss.