Tuesday 27 November 2012 10:00, UK
New QPR boss Harry Redknapp admits he needed a break from football after enduring an extraordinary 2012.
Redknapp has vowed to axe any QPR player who does not pull his weight as he faces up to the "toughest" challenge of his managerial career. Redknapp insists Rangers' "nice" owners have not been given the results they deserved for the money they had paid for their squad in transfer fees and wages. "We've got four points from 13 games, which is an incredible, low total. We've got to do better to give ourselves and opportunity to get out of this mess. I need people that are going to work. "When they lose the ball, chase it. It's what you learnt when you were at school. That's what you did in the playground. I need 11 people with the ability to put effort in. And if they give that effort then we've got a chance of surviving. "If they don't, they're not going to play to start with and I'll find another 11 who will run about and work hard." He added: "I've got no time for people losing the ball and throwing their arms up in the air, and standing around with their hands on their hips. "We're in a relegation battle, we've got four points. It's their fault - it's nobody else's fault. If everyone works, the ability's there. I've got to make them work and get the best out of them now. "If they do that then we'll be okay, we'll survive." Spurs and Portsmouth were also in dire trouble when Redknapp took charge and he transformed both clubs' fortunes. But he said ahead of his first game in charge against Sunderland: "We mustn't kid ourselves. This is much tougher than those two jobs in my opinion, but I'm optimistic we can pull it off."