Queens Park Rangers are set to appoint Neil Critchley as the club’s new first-team manager, according to journalist Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Early target

The Hoops have been on the hunt for Michael Beale’s long-term successor since the end of November, with Critchley emerging as an early contender.

The 44-year-old has been out of work since October, when he was Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Aston Villa. The former Blackpool boss now looks set for a swift return to the Championship, though, with a move to Loftus Road seemingly close.

The Latest: Critchley set to join

Reporter Crook, who is currently in Qatar covering the World Cup, took to Twitter in the last 24 hours to share a significant QPR manager update.

He simply revealed that Critchley ‘is set’ to take the vacant managerial position at QPR.

The Verdict: Good move?

Critchley likes to play a 4-4-2 formation and enjoyed success with Blackpool, guiding them to promotion to the Championship during the 2020/21 season.

He ended with a 1.52 points-per-game ratio from his 109 games in charge of The Tangerines – a better record than Beale’s short stay at Loftus Road.

Therefore, it does seem to be a solid appointment, and R’s supporters will be hoping he can continue the club’s push for promotion over the coming months.