QPR look set to receive a significant financial boost thanks to their players’ progression at the World Cup in Qatar, in what is excellent early news for Neil Critchley.
What’s the word?
The former Blackpool boss was finally confirmed as the Hoops’ new manager on Sunday after the 3-0 defeat to Burnley and he already looks set for his first piece of good news in his spell at Loftus Road, just in time for the January transfer window.
As per the Evening Standard, clubs with players at the World Cup will receive around £8,000 per day that they are away from the club.
A boost for QPR
QPR had two players travel to Qatar last month in Senegal’s Seny Dieng and Morocco’s Ilias Chair. While neither have played a single minute at the World Cup so far, their countries’ progression to the round of 16 and semi-finals respectively has already banked the west London club a significant sum.
The Hoops have already made £268,000 thanks to Chair’s selection with the Atlas Lions, and that will reach £300,000 should they defeat France in the semi-final on Wednesday.
They also benefitted from Dieng’s selection for the African Cup of Nations holders, who progressed from Group A before they were defeated 3-0 by England in the round of 16, which saw QPR bank around £180,000.
While other Championship clubs also have multiple players at the World Cup, the vast majority were with Wales or other countries who have failed to progress past the group stage, meaning that nobody in the second tier will have benefitted as much from Qatar 2022 as QPR.
Although a cash injection of close to £500,000 feels insignificant when compared to some of the other ridiculous sums in football, it represents a game-changer to the R’s ahead of the January transfer window, especially as – like many other clubs – they will still be feeling the effects of the global pandemic on club finances.
Critchley will be hoping that the windfall can be put towards recruiting some new players in January, as the 44-year-old looks to make some game-changing signings in order to improve their awful form of late.
