Breaking news: Harry guaranteed at least one more deadline day appearance

It was with wearisome familiarity that the television in the corner of the room coughed out the words Redknapp, Queens Park Rangers and Tony Fernandes accompanied by the obligatory Sky Sports News yellow ticker informing us of the latest “breaking news” emanating from the West London club.

QPR chairman Fernandes had just released a statement rubbishing suggestions that his manager was about to be handed his P45 declaring that “Harry is the best man to get us out of the position we currently find ourselves in.”

That position is second-from-bottom in the Barclays Premier League with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to a less than convincing Manchester United, the 13^th loss from 22 games Redknapp has overseen while Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson’s second-half strikes were the 38^th and 39^th occasion that Rob Green has had to pick the ball out of his own net - the worst record in the division.

Afterwards Redknapp blamed an “insider” trying to destabilise the club when he was asked about the rumours of his potential sacking.

The 67-year-old also bemoaned his lack of striking options in the game against United which saw him start with Bobby Zamora and Charlie Austin up front while recent signing Mauro Zarate began from the bench and stayed there.

The Argentinian, who is on-loan from West Ham United, was overlooked in favour of Adel Taarabt to replace Leroy Fer with 20 minutes to go as QPR chased an equaliser on Saturday.

Zarate left Upton Park due to a lack of game-time and trust from Sam Allardyce and one can only imagine his mood when Moroccan Taarabt, who was publicly derided by Redknapp back in October for being “three-stone overweight” and “unfit to play”, was summoned instead to rescue the Rangers cause.

Despite often operating with Dutchman Fer and Chilean striker Eduardo Vargas out of position on the wings, QPR’s return of 23 goals is the highest in the bottom seven.

Aston Villa have scored less than half that amount of goals but sit three points and five places better off than the Loftus Road outfit.

Harry Redknapp has been hailed as the  man to lead QPR to safety by club chairman Tony Fernandes

Redknapp pointed out that his famed ability to wheel-and-deal in the transfer market will be curtailed to loanees in this window insisting that “I need another front man” - a phrase that will send a shudder down the spine of every Portsmouth fan trudging out of Fratton Park on Saturday after watching their side draw 1-1 with Burton Albion to remain ninth in League Two.

Following QPR’s record 10th straight defeat on the road against Burnley last weekend, Redknapp complained of having to rely on “seven or eight players [who played] in the Championship last year”.

Having been at the helm when QPR got relegated in May 2013, Redknapp did guide the club straight back up last season via the play-offs.

However, despite having arguably the biggest budget to play with in the Championship, QPR still finished well off the pace in the second tier last season while Sean Dyche guided Burnley to automatic promotion on a shoestring.

The Lancashire club spent £8million in the summer with £3million of that going on George Boyd from Hull City.

At the same time Redknapp forked out £10million to former club Tottenham Hotspur for the now crocked Brazilian Sandro, £8million to Norwich City to secure Fer while spending nearly £15million on Cardiff City duo Jordan Mutch and Stephen Caulker.

Additional transfer and loan fees brought QPR’s outlay to around £40million.

Jim White and Harry Redknapp look set to renew their transfer deadline day double-act on February 2

Mutch has struggled since moving to London while England international Caulker watched from the bench on Saturday alongside former England captain Rio Ferdinand as “Championship players” Richard Dunne and Clint Hill manned the centre of QPR’s defence.

Hill, Joey Barton and goalkeeper Robert Green were the only players in Saturday’s starting line-up whose signings pre-date Redknapp’s reign.

Since taking over from Mark Hughes in November 2012, he has signed 21 players.

Club owner Fernandes pointed out in yesterday’s statement: "This is Harry's squad of players…and we will do our best to strengthen where we can to give us the best possible chance."

It remains to be seen how much further the Malaysian is willing to stretch finances to back Redknapp from now until February 2 when the window closes.

The man himself joked in Saturday’s post-match press conference “Who will Sky have to interview through a car window if I am not here on transfer deadline day?”.

Over to you Jim White…