New QPR boss Paul Hart today shrugged off the controversy surrounding Jim Magilton’s departure as manager and vowed to “cause a bit of damage” in the Coca-Cola Championship.
Hart, 56, who was sacked by Portsmouth less than a month ago, has been appointed on a deal until the end of the season after Magilton left by “mutual consent” last night following his dressing-room bust-up with midfielder Akos Buzsaky.
“That has nothing to do with me,” said Hart. “I’m here now, what has happened in the past has happened and I don’t know too much about it. We have to look to the future.
“We’ve got a strong squad of players and we feel we might cause a bit of damage in the Championship.”
Former Luton boss Mick Harford, who had a spell in caretaker charge of Rangers in 2007, will be Hart’s assistant.
Their first game in charge will be against Sheffield United at Loftus Road on Saturday.
Magilton has strongly denied allegations of a head-butt, but after Buzsaky issued an ‘either he goes or I go’ ultimatum to chairman Flavio Briatore, Magilton’s time was up after six months in charge.
Hart’s appointment sees the Rangers managerial reins change hands for an incredible ninth time in just over two years since Briatore arrived at the club.
Permanent bosses John Gregory, Luigi De Canio, Iain Dowie, Paulo Sousa and Magilton have departed while Harford, Gareth Ainsworth (twice) and, in the last week, youth coaches Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham, have had spells as caretaker bosses.
Magilton was in charge for 23 games, Sousa lasted 26 and Dowie managed just 15.
Hart inherits a team lying 12th in the Coca-Cola Championship, just three points from the play-off places, following a 2-2 draw at West Brom on Monday.
Hungary international Buzsaky, 27, did not feature at the Hawthorns, apparently due to a knee injury, and his future at the club remains unclear.
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