QPR appoint Les Ferdinand as new head of football operations

Queens Park Rangers have appointed former England striker Les Ferdinand as their head of football operations.

The 47-year-old, who played for the club for eight years, left Tottenham last summer after being part of the coaching team under Tim Sherwood.

Ferdinand will help manager Harry Redknapp's attempt to lift QPR off the bottom of the Premier League.

"Having someone like him involved, someone who understands the history, can only be good," said Redknapp.

A club statement said Ferdinand would be "charged with overseeing the structure of the footballing side of the club, focusing on improving the footballing philosophy at all levels".

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes is hoping Ferdinand can work in tandem with Redknapp to avoid relegation after QPR have won only one of their first league seven matches this season.

"When the opportunity to return here in this role came up I jumped at the opportunity," said Ferdinand. "There's nothing I want more than for QPR to be successful in the short, medium and long term and I'm excited about the challenge ahead."