 Tuesday, 10th Jan 2012 23:54 by Grant Keiller How quickly things move on. Less than 48 hours after the axe fell on Neil Warnock QPR already have a new manager. Grant Keiller looks at the stats of Warnock’s W12 reign. In Warnock we trust, Warnock the saviour, Warnock the legend. Alas its Warnock no more. As the battlefield of emotion sweeps across the message board, the pros and cons and occasional stat enters the argument. The nerves may be raw but just how far did Warnock soar? Trying to be level headed for a moment, let’s leave the poetry aside and let the facts answer. Where does Neil Warnock stand in the history of Queens Park Rangers managers? However memorable his spell in charge was surely with just 22 months in charge he would be just a footnote for a club that started back in 1882. Just keep in mind one of nine as we look at what we have achieved and who led us to glory through time. Going through the time line of managers I have picked out the ones who can hang their hats on some kind of success that has been notable in Rangers history. Our 1st manager (barring secretaries) was James Cowans who managed from 1/8/1906 until 31/3/1913. His record was; played 296, won 128, drew 85, lost 83. His seven year reign saw us crowned Southern League Champions in 1907/8 and again in 1911/12, on both occasions allowing us to play in the Charity Shield. We lost to Manchester United 4-0 in the replay at the start of 1909 season after a 1-1 draw at the end of 1908 season - the only time a replay occurred in what is now called the FA Community Shield. In 1912 Blackburn Rovers beat us 2-1. Cowans was a former Scotland international centre half who unfortunately had to resign due to illness and passed away in December 1915 back in Scotland. In 1920/21 Rangers moved with all the First Division Southern League teams into the new Third Division South of the Football League. It was where Rangers stayed through six managers until Dave Mangnall was appointed on 1/4/1944, taking over as player/manager from Ted Vizard who did manage QPR but only in war time competitions and never a competitive game. Mangnall became a QPR player in May 1939 and went on to score 99 goals in 131 games. As a manager his record overall was played 356 won 150 drew 96 lost 110. A run to the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1945-46 was the furthest we had come to that point in our history. After missing out by three points in 1946-7 he lead the club to its first ever promotion as champions of Division Three South in 1947-8 by four points with a record of; 42 played, 26 wins, nine draws, seven losses, 74 goals scored, 37 conceded, 61 points. Another good FA Cup run saw Rangers into the sixth round in 1947-8 but they lost to Derby after a replay. He went on to keep the club in the second division for four years until 1952, then retired and passed away in April 1962. Jack Taylor, in charge from 23 April 1952 until 27 April 1959, should be mentioned although his record isn't outstanding - played 341, won 118, drew 89, lost 134. He importantly kept the club up in 1957-8 when the league ruled that the divisions would change to become non-regionalised, thus only the top 12 clubs in the North and South Third divisions would stay in the new non-regionalised third. Typical of QPR a late dash at the end of the season - six wins and five draws in their last 12 games - saw the club finish tenth. Then the face of the club changed forever. On 22 August 1959 former player Alec Stock was introduced as manager. He rebuilt the club with a strong youth set up that saw many home grown prospects play a part in Rangers’ success in the 1960's and 70's. The likes of Frank Sibley, Mick Leach and the Morgan twins all became first team regulars. The second ever promotion was gained in 1966-67 when they won the Third Division Championship by 12 points - played 46, won 26, drew 15, lost five, scored 103, conceded 38, 67 points. Prior to the promotion came Queens Park Rangers first, and as yet only, major cup trophy - Wembley March 4, 1967, was the first ever League Cup to be played as a one off final. Third Division QPR beat First Division 3-2 having trailed 2-0. The following season yet another historical moment for the club saw a runners’ up position in the old Second Division secured, meaning that, for the first time in the club’s history, it would play in the top division of English football. Sadly for Stock it was to be his last season in charge of Rangers - finishing with a record of played 459, won 220, drew 106, lost 133 - as he never lead the team out for a Division One game. He passed away April 2001. Gordon Jago took over from Les Allen midway through the 1970/71 and stayed until October 1974 collecting 79 victories and 59 draws from 180 games. By purchasing Stan Bowles, Dave Thomas and Don Givens Jago helped start the wonderful 1970's era at Loftus Road. After the previous single ill-fated spell in the top flight he returned them for a second stab at it by finishing second in 1972/73. Second time around Rangers finished eighth and made the sixth round of the FA Cup in 1973/74. Dave Sexton took over from Jago on October 12, 1974, and stayed until May 1977 - not a long reign but some great memories. Of course 1975-76 was a year all Rangers fans either remember or have been told about - ten days so near so far. Runners up, one point behind Liverpool; played 42, won 24, drew 11, lost 7, goals scored 67, against 33, points 59. The highest ever finish in the history of the club in the Football League. Often over looked was 1976-77 UEFA Cup run to the quarter finals, scoring 26 goals in 8 games before going out on penalties to AEK Athens after winning the first leg 3-0. Plus a League Cup run to the Semi Finals before a replay loss to Aston Villa stopped the dream of another Wembley date. Sexton's final record was played 142, won 65, drew 35, lost 42. Fast forward to Terry Venables who reigned from November 8, 1980, until May 15, 1984. A former QPR and England international player, Terry was the next manager to lead Rangers to success with a run to the FA Cup final 1982 as a Second Division team. A drawn final with Spurs led to a replay and an unlucky 1-0 loss. The following season, 1982-83, they were again led back to the promised land with the Division Two championship and a record of played 42, won 26, drawn seven, lost nine, points 85 – ten ahead of the nearest competitor Wolves. His final record was played 175, won 89, drawn 34, lost 52. Jim Smith was in charge from August 17, 1985, until December 3, 1988, with a record of played 169, won 67, drawn 38, lost 64. That isn’t brilliant compared to others but he did take us back to the League Cup Final, then know as the Milk Cup, with wins over Chelsea and Liverpool who both finished in the top six of Division One. We were on the wrong end of a 3 -0 score line against Oxford - enough said about that game. Gerry Francis, former club and England captain, led Rangers into the Premier League era and although he registered neither a promotion or serious cup run he did post a proud finish as the top London club in the first ever Premier League season. He had two spells – August 18 1991 until November 5, 1994, and October 25, 1998, until February 24, 2001. He played 284, won 95, drew 89 and lost 100. He was succeeded by one of his former players Ian Holloway who arrived on March 3, 2001, and stayed until February 5, 2006, with a record of played 252, won 100, drew 69, lost 83. A former player who watched the club slide back into the third tier of English football for the first time since 1967, and then despite a very trying financial situation built it up again to a playoff loss to Cardiff in 2003. Next season the R’s were runner's up to Plymouth in Division Two which was good enough for promotion into what is now the Championship. And of course the last to earn promotion was Neil Warnock who took over on March 2, 2010, and stayed until Sunday January 8 this year with a record of played 84, won 33, drew 27, lost 24. He won promotion from the Championship in 2010-11 as winners of the division in his one and only full season. In total QPR have had 50 changes in manager over their history. Many have come and many have failed but it’s nice to look back and stay we have never been in the fourth tier of the Football League as it is now, which for a club of our size is solid accomplishment. Neil Warnock was far from a failure he joins that band of merry brothers who have achieved a promotion with QPR. Only one of nine managers to win or come runner up, be promoted or make a cup final. Where on that list of nine does he fit? Well everyone will have a different opinion but that’s part of the fun of this sport. For me Alec Stock with two promotions and a cup win comes first with Sexton so close to the holy grail and Venables one result from the cup, the second biggest prize in English Football, third. But Warnock certainly does deserve to be of the pointy end of the list of 50 changes from a club that started in 1882. As hinted above football is more than numbers game, yes wins and losses are noted and in Neil’s case sadly they didn't start to amount to much in the last month or two. It’s passion, emotions, memories, expectations, rivalries and more are all part of the fabric of this game. All the managers listed above have given the supporters of their day joy and memories that can't ever be taken away. This club doesn't have a warehouse full of trophies but the good times must be remembered and nobody will ever forget those days of Watford and Leeds - the QPR equivalent (in recent history) of where were you when Kennedy was shot? Neil you gave us those and hopefully a new beginning to launch the club to higher ground and more silverware so thank you. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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