QPR chief Ferdinand hits back at online critics

QPR director of football Les Ferdinand has hit back at rumours on social media that he interferes in first-team affairs.

Speaking to QPR Player, Ferdinand insisted suggestions he had undermined Rangers managers in some way were “extremely frustrating” and that he had not tried to influence team selection.

He added: “You get people on social media who wake up in the morning and decide they know what’s going on at the football club.

“Sometimes when people put something out there it snowballs into something that they don’t know what they’re talking about.

“This is probably why I’m not on social media; because you’d reply and get angry because people are talking about something they know absolutely nothing about.”

Ferdinand has been speaking following the appointment of his former QPR team-mate Ian Holloway, who is back for a second spell as manager after succeeding Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Dutchman Hasselbaink was sacked following a series of poor results and performances, which left the R’s 17th in the Championship table.

“As far as team selection is concerned, I had no influence on Jimmy. Jimmy picked the team that he wanted,” Ferdinand said.

“We spoke about football but I never, ever got involved in terms of what he selected as his team. My job is to assist him in terms of acquiring players.

“I do not have any influence on players the manager picks. I do have an influence on who he brings in here because we all have to feel he’s right for the club.

“Unfortunately there’s been a taint on directors of football in this country in terms of saying ‘they go out and buy the players and pick the team’.

“If I wanted to pick the team I would put myself forward to be the manager and I haven’t done that.”