Dowie up for the challenge

New R's boss can handle promotion pressure

By James Pearson   Last updated: 20th May 2008

Dowie up for the challenge

Dowie: Up for the challenge

I think it's nice to be coming in as manager of QPR knowing that they have to have success.

Dowie on R's challenge
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Iain Dowie insists he is relishing the challenge of getting Queens Park Rangers back into the Premier League.

The West Londoners have not been in England's top flight in 12 seasons following relegation to the First Division at the end of the 1995/96 campaign.

However, following a takeover by Formula One tycoons and multi-millionaires Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore last year, hopes of a Premier League return have been manifest.

Former caretaker manager and R's player Dowie succeeded Italian tactician Luigi Di Canio earlier this month and is excited about taking on the pressure of winning promotion.

Challenge

"It's a fantastic challenge," he told Sky Sports News. "I've played under one of the great legends in Gerry (Francis) so it's a club steeped in history.

"It has great tradition and a huge fan base. It's in a very exciting period in its history. To be challenged with getting them where they want to be is very exciting and is also a great honour."

Dowie is not planning a long-term strategy at Loftus Road; aware that unless he wins promotion he will soon be out of a job again.

QPR have already spent big during Di Canio's time at the helm and Dowie does not think the squad needs to undergo wholesale changes, in order to challenge for the automatic promotion places.

"The idea is (to win promotion) as soon as you can," he continued. "I've signed here for two years and clearly I'll have to bring success during my time here.

"I think it's nice to be coming in as manager of QPR knowing that they have to have success. That positive pressure is something that I embrace.

Progression

"We're going to have to show good progression throughout the year and hopefully be very competitive and I think we will be.

"I think this squad is a decent squad. It doesn't need a major overhaul, just tinkering with. It doesn't need major surgery.

"I would think two or three. It's not in the range of five or six. My view is two or three key personnel would make a huge difference to what is a very good squad.

"It's important I give everyone here a thorough once over and an opportunity to show what they can do.

"I don't know (how much money is available) and I've not asked. We'll sign the players that are right for the club. They'll fit into what the criteria of the club is."

Former England keeper Tim Flowers has been named Dowie's assistant and the ex-Blackburn shot-stopper has been impressed by what he has seen by the squad over the past year.

"I like the look of the squad, I've seen QPR play a few times over the last 12 months or so and I'm very optimistic about next season," he told the club's official website.