Hart steps in to Loftus Road Hot seat

Queens Park Rangers acted quickly to the news that they had parted company with Jim Magilton by appointing Paul Hart as the club's new manager. Hart, who was sacked as manager of Premier League struggler's Portsmouth in November has signed a contract that will see him take charge of the Hoops until the end of the season and will be joined by assistant Mick Harford, who was also recently relieved of his managerial duties when sacked by Luton Town in October.

Hart becomes the sixth manager to step into the Loftus Road hot seat since the Rs were taken over by Motor Racing supremos Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone together with multi-billionaire business Lakshmi Mittal in 2007. He follows Jim Magilton, Gareth Ainsworth, Paulo Sousa, Iain Dowie and Luigi De Canio and Hart could be forgiven for thinking that if he doesn't achieve promotion come May, he too could be out of work once again, which will leave the QPR fans wondering how on earth their beloved club has become the laughing stock of football.

Rangers currently sit 12th in The Championship, just three points behind the play-off positions. However, they are without a win in eight games and Hart must look to turn that around quickly if the side are to harbour any realistic ambitions of a promotion push in the new year. There are certainly worse squads to take over, with Rangers boasting an array of talent and with money sure to be at his disposal in the January transfer window, it would be no surprise to see Hart get this side back on track and challenging at the right end of the division come the end of the season.