| Furs leaving on 17:53 - Nov 28 with 2148 views | BklynRanger |
| Furs leaving on 17:32 - Nov 28 by CroydonCaptJack |
The statement doesn't give much away really does it. Somme nice stuff in there from PF and CN. |
Agreed. Considering the time between the WLS story and that, it has a much warmer feel than expected.
I wonder if they agreed on a couple of things at the last minute, in terms of how he'd be treated on the way out.
It's a bag of shyte either way of course. I hate to use the words 'organisational memory' after 2 pints, but you loose it at your peril. |  | |  |
| Furs leaving on 17:55 - Nov 28 with 2116 views | ingeminate |
Just read Matt Winton’s piece via QPR Report on Twitter. Did make me question what we do/don’t know. Eg could Furs have been fed up that of his cup winning team some were turfed out straight away, others not given the chances perhaps he thinks they should have. While we’ve bought some good young players this season hasn’t seen the same opportunities given to our youngsters as last year. Has that caused a disconnect with Furs being more loyal and the new regime more ruthless? I don’t know, but then even the really well informed here with the inside track may not have the whole picture.
What I do know is that if someone as well respected, well liked and from all you hear good as his job is being booted out I am very glad he does so off the back of that cup win, he leaves at the top, held held high, CV enhanced and hope he lands a decent gig soon. |  |
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| Furs leaving on 18:00 - Nov 28 with 2068 views | FDC |
Furlong Embarks on High-Octane Spontaneous Exploration Adventure!
The organization confirms the swift de-coupling of Paul Furlong from his Development Squad head coaching role.
Furlong, a long-term resource, is initiating a period of high-value personal strategic realignment
.
Academy Director Alex Carroll affirmed: "Collaborating with 'Furs' was a privilege dividend."
CEO Christian Nourry added: "His demeanor garners the highest complimentary metric, and Furlong is now enthusiastically launching new professional odysseys” |  | | |
| Furs leaving on 18:07 - Nov 28 with 2012 views | Northernr |
| Furs leaving on 17:55 - Nov 28 by ingeminate |
Just read Matt Winton’s piece via QPR Report on Twitter. Did make me question what we do/don’t know. Eg could Furs have been fed up that of his cup winning team some were turfed out straight away, others not given the chances perhaps he thinks they should have. While we’ve bought some good young players this season hasn’t seen the same opportunities given to our youngsters as last year. Has that caused a disconnect with Furs being more loyal and the new regime more ruthless? I don’t know, but then even the really well informed here with the inside track may not have the whole picture.
What I do know is that if someone as well respected, well liked and from all you hear good as his job is being booted out I am very glad he does so off the back of that cup win, he leaves at the top, held held high, CV enhanced and hope he lands a decent gig soon. |
Matt's entitled to his view and it's important all views and sides are given air time and heard, which is why we're the only QPR site/podcast that's had him on to give him a chance to express that view.
But the insinuation a journalist as good as Dave Mc, or a site like this, would report on something while not being in possession of the facts, sourced from multiple trustworthy places, is not right. We'd risk being sued to absolute buggery if we did that. |  | | |
| Furs leaving on 18:19 - Nov 28 with 1907 views | dmm |
The weekly email from QPR arrived about an hour ago. Mainly about tomorrow's game, of course, but a number of other things that are currently featured on the website. Nothing about Furlong's departure. That says a lot. |  | | |
| Furs leaving on 18:19 - Nov 28 with 1909 views | Hunterhoop |
| Furs leaving on 17:44 - Nov 28 by bosh67 |
I think the question we all have is why? Why is an enormously successful and popular person moving on? |
Because he fell out with someone, I would suggest. |  | | |
| Furs leaving on 18:37 - Nov 28 with 1796 views | baz_qpr |
Look it happens, it's perfectly normal for disagreements to occur especially in football, over players, methods etc If they are not pulling the same way, they cannot disagree and commit then inevitably someone moves on. I have no knowledge of why he is moving on, what I do know is he has been a great servant to the club for a long time both as a player and a coach. |  | | |
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| Furs leaving on 18:47 - Nov 28 with 1701 views | Beckenhamhoop |
| Furs leaving on 17:21 - Nov 28 by BazzaInTheLoft |
Cheers for sharing.
“But to progress as a club, difficult decisions are often necessary"
I mean, this means it wasn't his decision right? Otherwise his words are either the mark of a gentleman reluctant to injure the club, someone who came to a settlement, or both.
My money is on both. Good luck to him. |
You’re consistent, I’ll give you that. |  | | |
| Furs leaving on 18:52 - Nov 28 with 1649 views | ingeminate |
| Furs leaving on 18:07 - Nov 28 by Northernr |
Matt's entitled to his view and it's important all views and sides are given air time and heard, which is why we're the only QPR site/podcast that's had him on to give him a chance to express that view.
But the insinuation a journalist as good as Dave Mc, or a site like this, would report on something while not being in possession of the facts, sourced from multiple trustworthy places, is not right. We'd risk being sued to absolute buggery if we did that. |
Yep I thought his take on Furlong possibly being ill etc lost him some credibility, though the broader argument of assuming the worst I thought possibly still stood, I think I’m guilty of it at any rate. | |
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| Furs leaving on 18:53 - Nov 28 with 1643 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
Agree with Matt Winton on the progress part, but when he says
"It’s extraordinary how easy it seems to be to assume the club is in the wrong without knowing a single thing about what has actually happened"
he doesn't consider probably the dozens of staff, parents, and players who all talk. I'd wager it's not in the Kilburn times because people fear for their jobs and the potential deployment of one of Europe's top lawyers. |  | | |
| Furs leaving on 18:54 - Nov 28 with 1624 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
| Furs leaving on 18:47 - Nov 28 by Beckenhamhoop |
You’re consistent, I’ll give you that. |
Thank you very much. | | | |
| Furs leaving on 18:55 - Nov 28 with 1618 views | Beckenhamhoop |
| Furs leaving on 18:07 - Nov 28 by Northernr |
Matt's entitled to his view and it's important all views and sides are given air time and heard, which is why we're the only QPR site/podcast that's had him on to give him a chance to express that view.
But the insinuation a journalist as good as Dave Mc, or a site like this, would report on something while not being in possession of the facts, sourced from multiple trustworthy places, is not right. We'd risk being sued to absolute buggery if we did that. |
Where has he insinuated that? He said ‘ WLS published a story saying he might be leaving. No explanation, no real info.’ What is not true about that? He hasn’t questioned that the story is false, he’s stated that the reasons for Furlong leaving are not known and that it has led to baseless speculation which is absolutely right. There are a few examples of exactly that in this very thread. | | | |
| Furs leaving on 19:01 - Nov 28 with 1569 views | Northernr |
| Furs leaving on 18:55 - Nov 28 by Beckenhamhoop |
Where has he insinuated that? He said ‘ WLS published a story saying he might be leaving. No explanation, no real info.’ What is not true about that? He hasn’t questioned that the story is false, he’s stated that the reasons for Furlong leaving are not known and that it has led to baseless speculation which is absolutely right. There are a few examples of exactly that in this very thread. |
The paragraph says...
"WLS published a story saying he might be leaving. No explanation, no real info. For all we know, he could be ill, he could have a new job, or the club simply may feel it’s the right time for a change. But again, despite having zero facts, fans rush to blame the club, accuse leadership of disloyalty, and side with the employee."
1 - They didn't say he might be leaving, they said he was. And he is. So they were right. Shock.
2 - If somebody has a new job, or is leaving because they're sick, you do not have to delay your press release and coms on the issue while a settlement is agreed. If you've got to agree a settlement before you speak, then is your decision that person is leaving. I have a lot of sympathy with the media team there because they know how it looks, but you don't agree a settlement with somebody who is leaving of their own accord.
3 - "despite having zero facts". You've mentioned other comments on this thread, I'm not standing up for them, people can justify their own remarks, but from my point of view I wouldn't have written that preview on Wednesday unless it was really, really, well sourced. It would be a huge legal problem for me if I wrote something like that based on nothing more than hearsay and it turned out to be wrong. I don't actually like writing pieces like that, it brings me out in fcking anxiety attacks.
This post has been edited by an administrator | | | |
| Furs leaving on 19:05 - Nov 28 with 1527 views | JezHoops |
I saw the official announcement before checking in here for any insight or itk views. My reading between the lines of what Furs says suggested that a big issue was players being sent out and turnover. If my interpretation is right there is a clash between a dedicated coach trying to develop and get the best out of our youngsters and CN’s team playing stats and shuffling players in and out. | | | |
| Furs leaving on 19:31 - Nov 28 with 1367 views | Beckenhamhoop |
| Furs leaving on 19:01 - Nov 28 by Northernr |
The paragraph says...
"WLS published a story saying he might be leaving. No explanation, no real info. For all we know, he could be ill, he could have a new job, or the club simply may feel it’s the right time for a change. But again, despite having zero facts, fans rush to blame the club, accuse leadership of disloyalty, and side with the employee."
1 - They didn't say he might be leaving, they said he was. And he is. So they were right. Shock.
2 - If somebody has a new job, or is leaving because they're sick, you do not have to delay your press release and coms on the issue while a settlement is agreed. If you've got to agree a settlement before you speak, then is your decision that person is leaving. I have a lot of sympathy with the media team there because they know how it looks, but you don't agree a settlement with somebody who is leaving of their own accord.
3 - "despite having zero facts". You've mentioned other comments on this thread, I'm not standing up for them, people can justify their own remarks, but from my point of view I wouldn't have written that preview on Wednesday unless it was really, really, well sourced. It would be a huge legal problem for me if I wrote something like that based on nothing more than hearsay and it turned out to be wrong. I don't actually like writing pieces like that, it brings me out in fcking anxiety attacks.
This post has been edited by an administrator |
Right from the moment I read the WLS story I never doubted that Furlong was leaving but had no inside information as to why. What irks me, as Matt Winton stated, is the gleeful rush to condemn ‘the club’ by people who don’t, unlike you, have access to inside information and the wild bs they spew as a result.
The statements made by Furlong in the official release all refer to the Development Squad and do not mention Nourry or other staff members and it appears to me more than likely that there has been a falling out. Shock news…these things happen. Just because Furlong is a club legend doesn’t mean he has a job for life here. There has been a significant upheaval in how the club is run and to my mind it has been very largely for the good. Things move on, people move on. People fall out at work, it happens, even when they’re doing a very good job.
This unfortunate development (which obviously I’d rather hadn’t happened) is just the latest in a series of things (Ben Williams/Player fitness/Poor team performance/Results) that result in a completely disproportionate outpouring of bile. In my humble opinion this all stems from Cifuentes being relieved of his duties. Some people have just never got over it and can’t wait for another opportunity to have a pop. [Post edited 28 Nov 19:32]
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| Furs leaving on 19:33 - Nov 28 with 1356 views | JamesB1979 |
| Furs leaving on 19:01 - Nov 28 by Northernr |
The paragraph says...
"WLS published a story saying he might be leaving. No explanation, no real info. For all we know, he could be ill, he could have a new job, or the club simply may feel it’s the right time for a change. But again, despite having zero facts, fans rush to blame the club, accuse leadership of disloyalty, and side with the employee."
1 - They didn't say he might be leaving, they said he was. And he is. So they were right. Shock.
2 - If somebody has a new job, or is leaving because they're sick, you do not have to delay your press release and coms on the issue while a settlement is agreed. If you've got to agree a settlement before you speak, then is your decision that person is leaving. I have a lot of sympathy with the media team there because they know how it looks, but you don't agree a settlement with somebody who is leaving of their own accord.
3 - "despite having zero facts". You've mentioned other comments on this thread, I'm not standing up for them, people can justify their own remarks, but from my point of view I wouldn't have written that preview on Wednesday unless it was really, really, well sourced. It would be a huge legal problem for me if I wrote something like that based on nothing more than hearsay and it turned out to be wrong. I don't actually like writing pieces like that, it brings me out in fcking anxiety attacks.
This post has been edited by an administrator |
Personally I read Matt Wintons article was saying that the WLS article was published with no explanation. And then fans jumped to conclusion without facts. I didn’t read it that he was accusing WLS of making stuff up. Just how I read it. | | | |
| Furs leaving on 19:35 - Nov 28 with 1344 views | Northernr |
| Furs leaving on 19:33 - Nov 28 by JamesB1979 |
Personally I read Matt Wintons article was saying that the WLS article was published with no explanation. And then fans jumped to conclusion without facts. I didn’t read it that he was accusing WLS of making stuff up. Just how I read it. |
Okay, well, again, speaking for myself, I wasn't jumping to conclusion without facts at all.
And if Dave Mc did so he'd be in trouble. | | | |
| Furs leaving on 19:37 - Nov 28 with 1329 views | Beckenhamhoop |
| Furs leaving on 19:35 - Nov 28 by Northernr |
Okay, well, again, speaking for myself, I wasn't jumping to conclusion without facts at all.
And if Dave Mc did so he'd be in trouble. |
You’re missing the point. | | | |
| Furs leaving on 19:37 - Nov 28 with 1328 views | Northernr |
| Furs leaving on 19:31 - Nov 28 by Beckenhamhoop |
Right from the moment I read the WLS story I never doubted that Furlong was leaving but had no inside information as to why. What irks me, as Matt Winton stated, is the gleeful rush to condemn ‘the club’ by people who don’t, unlike you, have access to inside information and the wild bs they spew as a result.
The statements made by Furlong in the official release all refer to the Development Squad and do not mention Nourry or other staff members and it appears to me more than likely that there has been a falling out. Shock news…these things happen. Just because Furlong is a club legend doesn’t mean he has a job for life here. There has been a significant upheaval in how the club is run and to my mind it has been very largely for the good. Things move on, people move on. People fall out at work, it happens, even when they’re doing a very good job.
This unfortunate development (which obviously I’d rather hadn’t happened) is just the latest in a series of things (Ben Williams/Player fitness/Poor team performance/Results) that result in a completely disproportionate outpouring of bile. In my humble opinion this all stems from Cifuentes being relieved of his duties. Some people have just never got over it and can’t wait for another opportunity to have a pop. [Post edited 28 Nov 19:32]
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You're entitled to that view.
I'll stick with my original thought that somebody like Paul Furlong deserves to be treated far, far better than that. | | | |
| Furs leaving on 19:38 - Nov 28 with 1320 views | Northernr |
| Furs leaving on 19:37 - Nov 28 by Beckenhamhoop |
You’re missing the point. |
Well, same, I think you are. So in the interests of going and having a more enjoyable Friday night happy to leave it there. | | | |
| Furs leaving on 20:06 - Nov 28 with 1178 views | Mick_S |
| Furs leaving on 17:46 - Nov 28 by mart_Goblin |
If I was Stéphan I’d be very afraid if another bad run crops up , which it inevitably will. |
I’d understand that. It’s what we and others do. I don’t get the Furlong thing at all, but I know nothing other than I’ve read here. |  |
| Did I ever mention that I was in Minder? |
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| Furs leaving on 20:29 - Nov 28 with 1057 views | BklynRanger |
| Furs leaving on 19:31 - Nov 28 by Beckenhamhoop |
Right from the moment I read the WLS story I never doubted that Furlong was leaving but had no inside information as to why. What irks me, as Matt Winton stated, is the gleeful rush to condemn ‘the club’ by people who don’t, unlike you, have access to inside information and the wild bs they spew as a result.
The statements made by Furlong in the official release all refer to the Development Squad and do not mention Nourry or other staff members and it appears to me more than likely that there has been a falling out. Shock news…these things happen. Just because Furlong is a club legend doesn’t mean he has a job for life here. There has been a significant upheaval in how the club is run and to my mind it has been very largely for the good. Things move on, people move on. People fall out at work, it happens, even when they’re doing a very good job.
This unfortunate development (which obviously I’d rather hadn’t happened) is just the latest in a series of things (Ben Williams/Player fitness/Poor team performance/Results) that result in a completely disproportionate outpouring of bile. In my humble opinion this all stems from Cifuentes being relieved of his duties. Some people have just never got over it and can’t wait for another opportunity to have a pop. [Post edited 28 Nov 19:32]
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Is your problem the quantity of people who are upset? Because you're upset too.
Or the intensity of the upset - the 'bile' as you call it?
You seem to want to control, or play down, a number of reactions here, and the idea that it's all about Marti is massively patronising.
Let people be annoyed about the loss of a club legend, - why not? What special alternative knowledge do you have to say it's not justified? | | | |
| Furs leaving on 20:33 - Nov 28 with 2006 views | KensalT |
For the benefit of anyone who hasn't read the Matt Winton piece the link is here and I will paste the text below the link:
https://medium.com/@matt.winton/why-i-support-qprs-leadership-and-why-so-much-of
Why I Support QPR’s Leadership — And Why So Much of the Criticism Misses the Point
I wanted to put some of my views down in longer form, mainly because it’s impossible to distil this outlook into a tweet without getting dragged into misunderstandings. Over the last week or so, I’ve again found myself in heated back-and-forths on X, trying to dampen a groundswell of criticism that I simply don’t think is warranted. And what strikes me is this: so much of the criticism of the club is based on things supporters have no real understanding of behind the scenes.
This isn’t a new pattern; it’s been consistent over the last year. We’ve had waves of anger over issues where the club quite literally cannot divulge details, often for legal, strategic, or employment-related reasons. Yet, even with complete information absent, the reflex is always to assume the worst.
The Transparency Myth
Injuries and contracts:
For months, fans complained about a lack of transparency. The club stated clearly that they preferred to keep details private for strategic reasons, something many clubs around the world do as standard. The club actually took learnings from that communication backlash and has already been far more transparent about injuries this season.
Martí on gardening leave:
The outrage machine went into overdrive when Martí was placed on gardening leave. Nobody outside the club knows the details, not the contractual obligations, not the HR context, not the legal restrictions, and not the internal dynamics. Matters of employment law and severance are always confidential in every business, across every sector. Yet somehow, QPR fans expect full disclosure and assume wrongdoing when they don’t get it.
This week’s uproar about Furlong:
WLS published a story saying he might be leaving. No explanation, no real info. For all we know, he could be ill, he could have a new job, or the club simply may feel it’s the right time for a change. But again, despite having zero facts, fans rush to blame the club, accuse leadership of disloyalty, and side with the employee.
It’s extraordinary how easy it seems to be to assume the club is in the wrong without knowing a single thing about what has actually happened.
Why My View Has Changed — And Why I Back the Leadership
Now, on a personal level, this comes from someone who has a long history of being critical of the owners. And, to be fair, there have been periods where criticism was justified based on the information in the public domain.
But right now? I’m throwing my support behind the club, and particularly behind the people running it behind the scenes, because I see genuine progress, genuine competence, and genuine strategy. And after a decade of inconsistent direction, that matters.
For years, fans have said:
· “We need a club model that isn’t dependent on the manager.”
· “We need clarity about who’s actually responsible for decisions.”
· “We need to modernise our operations.”
Well, now we finally have exactly that. For the first time in ages, accountability is clear. We know who leads on what. We know where decisions sit. And we’ve put in place a structure that is ahead of what many competitors are doing, which is vital given our budget constraints.
And crucially, we’re not relying on a single personality to hold everything together, unlike the Holloway or Warburton periods, where things worked largely because the manager was strong enough to mask deeper structural issues. Once they left, everything fell apart. That’s not a sustainable model.
This time, it feels different.
The Evidence: Tangible, Measurable Progress
Criticism thrives in the absence of information. So let’s focus on what we do know, using actual data and on-pitch evidence.
1. The Managerial Decision: Replacing Martí Was Spot On
Getting rid of Martí already looks like an unquestionably smart move. The numbers are clear:
· Win rate / points:
QPR went from 2 wins in 17 to 7 wins over the same stage. Points per game more than doubled from 0.71 → 1.47.
· Attack:
Goals scored increased from 0.94 → 1.24 per game — a big shift in productivity.
· Defence:
Goals conceded improved from 1.65 → 1.47 per game. This despite shipping 7 in one game.
· Overall:
We’ve gone from being in relegation form last season to being a competitive, stable, mid-table side this season.
Stephan is a clear upgrade on Martí, and Martí’s struggles at Leicester only reinforce that reality. This wasn’t luck. It was a strategic call made by people who actually understand what’s going on inside the club.
2. Talent Acquisition: A Recruitment Structure That Actually Works
In the last two years, recruitment has transformed. The structure, the process, the profiles, all of it.
· The squad is more balanced than at any point in the last decade.
· The depth is night-and-day from previous seasons; we can finally rotate without collapsing.
· Young talent in the DLS pipeline, Smith, Akindelini, Isak, Esquardinho, is genuine, not hype.
· The club is smarter, leaner, and far more strategic than during the Ferdinand era.
Yes, Ferdinand inherited a mess. Yes, he did some good things. But after eight years, the club was still lopsided and under-resourced. In two years, Nourry has achieved more with less.
3. Youth Structure: Real Progress, Real Results
The academy and DLS setup is producing consistent, meaningful results across age groups.
· The U18s are strong and cohesive.
· A group of U16s went to Manchester United and won.
· There’s a conveyor belt forming between U18 → DLS → first team.
· We have numerous young players on loan in the National League performing incredibly well.
Under the previous structure, after eight years, we had virtually no meaningful pipeline to the first team. Players were poorly developed, given overly long contracts, and retained far too long. Now we’re seeing a strategy that works.
Performance × acquisition × development, all trending upward.
4. Operational Decisions: Small Things That Make a Big Difference
A good example: removing away fans from the Lower School End.
It’s a simple, clever decision that instantly made Loftus Road a more difficult place for visiting teams. These marginal gains matter.
Most Importantly: QPR Is Fun Again
On a personal level, taking my kids to Loftus Road this season has been a joy. They see:
· Goals in the Loft End
· Wins
· Attacking football
· A team playing with identity and pride
It’s night and day from the previous two years where home wins were rare and goals even rarer.
The Owners: Still Investing, Still Writing Off Losses
People love to assume the owners are inactive or detached. Yet they continue to write off losses and keep the club afloat while moving us toward becoming as self-sufficient as possible. That matters. It’s real commitment, not PR.
So Why the Relentless Negativity?
I genuinely don’t understand why so many smart, well-informed fans choose contempt as their default response. Why do they assume the worst of decision-makers without knowing any facts? Why do they ignore the clear, measurable progress in favour of hypothetical grievances?
We must stop whinging about the unknowns and start supporting the many positives backed by actual evidence.
My Conclusion
I support the current leadership because:
· I see measurable progress.
· I see strategy.
· I see accountability.
· I see improvement across every key metric that matters.
· And I see a club moving in the right direction both on and off the pitch.
We’ve spent years begging for exactly this model of operation. Now that we have it, it’s time to get behind it.
Enough complaining about what we don’t know.
Let’s support the things we do know, and the people delivering them. | | | |
| Furs leaving on 20:37 - Nov 28 with 1954 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
Is Matt Winton the person who posts as QPR report or was he just invited to write for them? | | | |
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