Harry Redknapp: QPR players must improve or be dropped

QPR manager Harry Redknapp has told the club's players that they need to improve or face being dropped.

The Loftus Road club are bottom of the Premier League with four points from 13 games and seven points from safety.

"We've got to do better to give ourselves any chance of getting out of this mess," said Redknapp, who replaced the sacked Mark Hughes at the weekend.

"I need 11 people with ability to put effort in. If they don't they're not going to play and I'll get 11 who do."

The 65-year-old, who says the club are discussing deals to add Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond to his coaching team, added: "I'm looking for people to graft and work.

"I've got no time for people who lose the ball and throw their hands up in the air or stand around with their hands on their hips. We are in a relegation battle."

Hughes was dismissed on Friday and Redknapp watched QPR's 3-1 defeat by Manchester United on Saturday from the Old Trafford stands.

The new R's boss met the club's players on Sunday and his first game in charge will be a trip to fellow strugglers Sunderland on Tuesday.

"I met the lads [on Sunday]. They were all upbeat," said Redknapp.

"They've got to realise they are in this position because they haven't really performed to their capabilities at the moment and they've got to do better.

"The players have to take responsibility for performances. They've got to up their performance level and get us out of trouble.

"I feel that there is enough ability here that with a bit of confidence we can hopefully climb the table."

Redknapp saved Portsmouth from relegation during two spells at the Fratton Park club, while also taking over at Tottenham when they were close to the bottom of the table and taking them to Champions League qualification the following season.

"We mustn't kid ourselves," he said. "This is much tougher than those two jobs in my opinion, but I'm optimistic we can pull it off.

"I want to be successful here, really badly. I want to keep this team in the Premier League.

"If the players try as hard as I am going to try we'll be successful."

Redknapp has been linked with a move for former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham, who is to leave LA Galaxy.

"I got a lovely text from David the other night, just wishing me well here," said the QPR boss.

"To have him at any football club would be a great influence on the club, but we've not discussed anything."

Redknapp, who played down expectations of a busy January transfer market, also denied any rift with Adel Taarabt, the playmaker he sold while in charge at Spurs.

"He wasn't a player I wanted to sell," he said. "He couldn't get in the team at Tottenham.

"I always felt he had the ability to become a top player. I've got to get the best out of him."