QPR put brakes on Nelsen MLS coaching move
QUEENS Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp hopes to delay Ryan Nelsen’s departure to Major League Soccer club Toronto FC so that he can face Tottenham on Saturday.
The defender is leaving the Premier League strugglers to manage in the MLS having finalised a deal in Canada yesterday.
Nelsen is under contract at Loftus Road until June but the 35-year-old is expected to take charge for the new MLS season in March.
“I’ve had several conversations with Harry and [club owner] Tony Fernandes. They understand that when I play I am playing on glass knees and glass ankles. It is a bit of a struggle,” said Nelsen.
His departure could depend on Redknapp’s success in the January transfer window as he seeks to strengthen his defence. Nelsen added: “QPR would like me to keep playing but we have to sit down and talk. If we can get five straight wins, that’d be perfect. Then we can shake hands and part company.”
Meanwhile QPR have released former England international Kieron Dyer after only eight appearances for the club since July 2011, activating a release clause in his contract despite his vital equaliser in Saturday’s 1-1 FA Cup draw with West Brom.