Neil Critchley: Queens Park Rangers appoint new head coach

Neil Critchley left his role as assistant head coach at Aston Villa in October

Neil Critchley has been appointed Queens Park Rangers' new head coach on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

The 44-year-old replaces Michael Beale, who left in November after less than six months as boss to take charge of Scottish Premiership side Rangers.

Critchley had also replaced Beale as Aston Villa assistant head coach in the summer but left in October when Steven Gerrard was sacked.

QPR are ninth in the Championship following Sunday's loss to Burnley.

"We want to move the club forward and ensure we are competing at the top end of the Championship table," Critchley told QPR's website.

"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."

QPR made a great start to the season under Beale, who took over from Mark Warburton in the summer, and were top of the league on 21 October but have since taken just one point from a possible 18.

Critchley left his role as youth coach at Liverpool to take charge at Blackpool in March 2020 and led the Tangerines to promotion to the second tier through the play-offs in his first full season in management in 2020-21.

He kept them in the Championship last season but left in June to join Gerrard's staff at Villa, having previously worked with the ex-England international with the Reds.

"I am looking forward to getting to work with the players and staff," Critchley added.

"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."

Mike Garrity has joined Critchley at QPR as assistant head coach, after leaving his role as assistant manager at Lincoln City.

Garrity worked with Critchley at Liverpool's academy, and at Blackpool, and was granted early release from his contract with the Imps, who he joined this summer.