Wally returns

  • by Staff Writer
  • Friday, 1st November 2013

Former first team coach Wally Downes is back in football after joining Championship club Queens Park Rangers.

The 52-year-old, who departed the Boleyn Ground last December in mysterious circumstances that have never been fully explained, has been out of work since parting company with West Ham.

However the former Wimbledon defender started work today for the first time in ten months, telling QPR's website that he was

It’s a great time to be coming to the Rangers," he said. "We’ve made an excellent start to the season and are having a real go at trying to get back in the Premier League, which is what I’m sure all the fans, staff and players want.

"I was born only five minutes away from QPR. I was a fan growing up and was at Loftus Road most weeks, so it’s special for me to be here now.

"Harry [Redknapp], Kevin [Bond] and Joe [Jordan] have worked tremendously well together for a long period of time. Hopefully I can come in, be a different pair of eyes and add something fresh on the training ground.

"We’re in a very good position and hopefully we can push on between now and the end of the season."

The nephew of former boxing champion Terry Downes, Wally joined West Ham in November 2010 when he joined the doomed Avram Grant's backroom squad as defensive coach.

Having survived the cull which followed relegation to the Championship, Downes became part of Sam Allardyce's backroom team and appeared to have become a valued member of the team. That was until a fateful trip to Dublin led to his departure.

Prior to joining West Ham, Downes - who was voted by KUMB Readers as the Most Missed person in our 2012/13 season awards - had worked in a coaching capacity for Reading, Southampton and Gillingham.

* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.



More News