Charlie Austin could walk out of QPR as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink walks in

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink could lose Charlie Austin in the blink of an eye

WEST LONDON now has a "chosen one" to rival the Special One after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was unveiled as QPR manager - but has been warned he could lose Charlie Austin before he even gets started.

 

Jose Mourinho gave himself his famous moniker when he first arrived at Chelsea in 2004 - and Dutchman Hasselbaink was in similarly bullish spirits at Loftus Road yesterday.

"I am very happy to be the chosen one, to be the head of the QPR family and to take them forward."

But although Hasselbaink insisted he wants to keep striker Austin ahead of the January transfer window, QPR director of football Les Ferdinand said: "Every player has his price. I wouldn't want to sit here and say Charlie is definitely staying."

Hasselbaink does not lack confidence. As a player he worked under managers of the calibre of Louis van Gaal, Frank Rijkaard, George Graham, Claudio Ranieri and Alan Pardew.

But asked who was the biggest influence on his managerial career, the former Dutch international striker, who was yesteday unveiled as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers, paused and said: "I've been fortunate to have played under a lot of good managers and great people - but they are not Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

"I am Jimmy. I know what I'm about and I don't want to be them. I want to be me."

Hasselbaink, 43, has been handed a rolling contract at Loftus Road but he insists that he wants to bring stability to a club where he is the fifth permanent manager in the last five years.

 

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink being presented as the new QPR boss

The former Leeds, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Charlton and Cardiff striker arrived at Loftus Road, where he succeeded Chris Ramsey, after a quite astonishing spell at Burton Albion, where in 13 months he lifted them to the League Two title, to the top of League One by the time he quit last week.

Hasselbaink, who started his managerial career at Belgian side Royal Antwerp, had a remarkable 61.11 per cent win rate with the Brewers - and insists he will be do it his wayat QPR.

"You have to make decisions for yourself," he said. "Nobody else can make decisions for you, you have to be you. My players will get my straight talking. I will be honest - I have to be able to look at myself in the mirror and my players need to know that I'm honest.

"I've worked with George Graham and Steve McClaren who I do speak to a lot, I have enjoyed playing under everybody, Pardew, Van Gaal, Rijkaard, Ranieri. I've been privileged."

QPR Director of Football Les Ferdinand, who revealed that the club had looked at a dozen candidates for the job, including former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson and ex Huddersfield chief Chris Powell, revealed that Hasselbaink was the board's unanimous choice, said: "Of all the managers we spoke to, that was the one quality Jimmy had more than anybody else.

"His hunger, his desire, his determination and his belief that he wants to get to the top. Where he sees himself going, where he sees himself taking the team, was very, very impressive."

Hasselbaink has insisted that he wants to work with the current QPR squad, who are only three points away from the Championship play-off places, before making any decisions on bringing new players in.

 

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (left) with QPR's director of football Les Ferdinand (right)

He said: "Feet on the ground first and concentrate on Saturday against Burnley. The league will take care of itself."

But Hasselbaink insisted that he wants to hang on to star man Charlie Austin, even though Ferdinand admitted that the striker still has his price.

Hasselbaink said: "It's not about one man, it's about the whole squad. If you're going to depend on one person you're not going to make it. We need more than Charlie Austin. Charlie is an important individual at this club, but it's a team game.

"He's not going to be pinched. I'm looking forward to working him but everybody else here too. Everybody has to be part of it.

"Players want to be led. They want to have somebody who will lead them. And lead them in the right way I want to bring young players through. We have not talked about bringing new players in. I want to work with this group first. I think they deserve that of me."