QPR chairman Amit Bhatia cited the "abrupt departure" of Michael Beale to Rangers as Neil Critchley was appointed as new manager at the London club.

The Loftus Road chief referenced Beale's exit last month as he returned to Ibrox to take the top job at Rangers having previously served as a coach under Steven Gerrard.

Beale had only been at QPR for five months before calling time on his stint and deciding to return to Rangers with the lure of becoming manager too good to turn down.

He had previously rejected interest from Premier League side Wolves to remain with the Championship club.

QPR last night announced Neil Critchley as their new manager to replace Beale. It's the second time Critchley has replaced Beale having joined Aston Villa after Beale's move to QPR as manager.

But as Critchley's signing - of a three-year deal - was announced, Beale was referenced by chairman Bhatia in a statement on the club website.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring Neil to the club.

“Following the abrupt departure of Mick Beale it was important that we made a swift appointment, but also that we took the necessary steps to ensure it was the correct appointment. In announcing Neil today, we have achieved that. 

“We have made a good start to the season and, in the same way Mick built on the strong work of his predecessor Mark Warburton, we wanted somebody who we felt certain could continue that progress for the club.

“We also wanted to ensure we appointed someone who shares the footballing philosophy of our club, and in Neil and his team we also feel confident we have achieved that.

“I’m excited for Neil to get started immediately and wish him the best of luck.” 

On his new role, Critchley commented: “I am very excited and can’t wait to get started.

“It is a huge honour for me and I would like to thank the owners, Les Ferdinand and Lee Hoos for entrusting me to lead the club.

“I would also like to thank Paul Hall and his staff for the hard work they have put in during the interim period.

“Now I am looking forward to getting to work with the players and staff. I already know some of the players from working with them previously and I am aware of a number of them, having followed their careers from afar.

“There have been some good foundations laid here and now it is my job to work as hard as I can to build on that.

“We want to move the club forward and ensure we are competing at the top end of the Championship table.”

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