Dowie axed by Rangers (From News Shopper)

Dowie axed by Rangers

9:27pm Friday 24th October 2008 in

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QPR have sacked manager Iain Dowie just 12 games into the Coca-Cola Championship season and have placed Gareth Ainsworth in caretaker charge ahead of Saturday's trip to Reading.

The 43-year-old, who only took over from previous boss Luigi de Canio in May, leaves Loftus Road with the west London club lying ninth in the table.

A club statement read: "The board of Queens Park Rangers Football Club has terminated the contract of manager Iain Dowie with immediate effect."

Dowie took charge of just 15 games in all competitions - exactly the same number as during his ill-fated spell at Charlton two years ago.

The former Northern Ireland striker guided Rangers into the last 16 of the Carling Cup, where they face a trip to Manchester United after knocking out Aston Villa in the third round.

His last game in charge was a goalless draw at Swansea on Tuesday night, where the opposition played for more than an hour with defender Alan Tate in goal.

Rangers were among the pre-season promotion favourites, bankrolled as they are by Formula One bosses Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone and Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, but their only victory in their last six games was a nervy 2-1 success over bottom side Nottingham Forest.

Dowie was also reported to have clashed with Briatore over the club's transfer policy earlier this season, with the likes of 34-year-old ex-Italy midfielder Damiano Tommasi brought in on a one-year contract but yet to make an appearance.

Briatore's contacts are also thought to have secured the signings of Daniel Parejo, on loan from Real Madrid, and Emmanuel Ledesma from Fiorentina, but neither have been in the starting line-up recently.

Former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has already been linked with the role.