Thursday 23 April 2020 12:21, UK
Les Ferdinand is cycling to Amsterdam in aid of Prostate Cancer UK but the journey with QPR might prove an even bigger challenge. Adam Bate caught up with him to discuss the club hero’s role in reviving their fortunes…
Having returned to the club during Queens Park Rangers' relegation season of 2014/15, the circumstances were not easy for Les Ferdinand. Appointed director of football in February of last year, his first summer back at Loftus Road featured Charlie Austin's transfer saga and the fiasco that was Sandro's work permit situation.
Just when things appeared to be settling down, coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink became caught up in a Telegraph sting operation. "It's been tough times," Ferdinand tells Sky Sports. "I've had some slide tackles and I've had some over-the-top tackles. Things still come up that surprise me but I'm taking it all in my stride."
Calm but switched on, it's easy to see why QPR owner Tony Fernandes was so impressed. Ferdinand's diagnosis of the issues at the club is persuasive. "When you get relegated there's a depression that comes over a football club," he says. "It's not just the players but the management, the staff and the supporters. There's depression.
"We're trying to bring some stability." But what then? "The aim is to get the club back in the Premier League," he adds quickly. "That's the ultimate goal. It's going to be long and hard but that's where we want to get to." Ferdinand is working to restore order but ambition, it seems, is not a dirty word. "It's great to be back," he adds with a smile.
Speaking in one of the executive boxes at Loftus Road, he's a man comfortable in his surroundings. "There aren't many pictures of me, you'd never have believed I played here," he laughs. He's being self-deprecating. It's not true. His image adorns the walls. Even two decades on from his playing exit, Ferdinand has still scored three times as many Premier League goals for the club as any other player.
But he's not here to reminisce about goals past. The next target is to promote Men United's latest campaign in aid of Prostate Cancer UK - the fifth annual Football to Amsterdam cycle ride in June. One in eight men are affected and Ferdinand is "trying to rope in the manager" too. He's up for the challenge but admits he must start training. He turns 50 in December.
Ferdinand is already older than the mother he lost to cancer 26 years ago, while prostate cancer is a subject particularly close to his heart. "I lost my grandad in 1998, my dad had it and my uncles had it, so it's been prevalent in my family. It's a case of raising awareness, especially when young black man are particularly at risk with one in four getting it."
At least his grandad got to see his playing career, albeit from a distance. He'd moved to St Lucia by then but there were posters around the house and he was particularly proud when Ferdinand made his England debut. Now the former striker is helping to run the club where his grandad saw him become a star.
"I went back into coaching but this was always a role I had a feel for and the opportunity came at the right place for me," he explains. "No disrespect to the CEOs that have been at this club or any other club, but when an agent comes in I just say 'No, tell me the player's name'. I'll do my own homework and research on it, thanks."
As Ferdinand sees it, it's the key advantage of having a man who knows football in an executive role. "Agents can't tell me about footballers," he adds. "OK, if we're negotiating over money and things like that, that's a different skillset. But identifying players and what's right for Queens Park Rangers is where they can't pull the wool over my eyes."
QPR find themselves 13th in the Championship, one place below where they finished last season, but there have been major changes of personnel. That volume of change is difficult to manage but given that the club had become notorious as a haven for players in search of one last payday it was also essential.
Instead of the likes of Jose Bosingwa, there are players such as Tjaronn Chery hungry to reach the top of the game. Polish midfielder Ariel Borysiuk is eager to make an impression and young prospect Jordan Cousins fits the new template that Ferdinand wants to see become the norm. "We are trying to make that progression," he says.
"We came into a situation where we had a lot of players coming to the end of their careers here at the club. We needed to change that. We needed to change the mind-set of the supporters as well, because we're now bringing in players who are perhaps not well known or established players. But these players are hungry and want to get to that next level."
"All that takes time. As much as we're in this society that's instant, unfortunately it's not a quick fix and a quick turnover. It's trying to get a happy medium. That's why I talk about consolidation. This time around we've brought seven or eight new players into the fold, so there's another settling-in period but we're trying to push on."
QPR's director of football is trying to make a difference, just like he'll be doing when he saddles up for Amsterdam next summer. "I have been in a macho industry for a very long time," concludes Ferdinand with a predictably firm handshake. "Young men need to check themselves." As with his plans for QPR, you know he means it.
Les Ferdinand is an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK and is taking part in the Football to Amsterdam cycling challenge from June 9 - 11. Join Les in the biggest ride in football by signing up here: prostatecanceruk.org/Amsterdam
