Huddlestone not surprised by QPR ‘shock’ choice

The 52-year-old’s appointment as Rangers’ manager until at least the end of the season was confirmed in the wake of this month’s 2-0 win at Sunderland.

Considering chairman Tony Fernandes had tweeted just a day or so earlier how the club had found its “dream manager”, Ramsey being given the job came as something of a surprise.

Huddlestone, though, is a big admirer of the former defender from his days on the coaching staff at White Hart Lane.

“Chris was assistant with Tim (Sherwood, former Spurs manager) and Les (Ferdinand) for the Under-21s, so we saw him around the building,” said Huddlestone ahead of today’s encounter. “When I was coming back from injury, I trained and played a few games with the Under-21s.

“Within the game, he has got a very big reputation. With all the qualifications he has got and the number of years he has been working in the game, I am surprised he didn’t move into management sooner.

“That might be personal choice; maybe he enjoyed working with the younger age groups to develop them as players. As you can see with Tottenham’s team at the minute, he has done a fairly good job over the last four or five years.”

Ramsey, who moved across the capital last summer, is working closely with QPR director of football Les Ferdinand as he looks to secure the job beyond the end of this season.

Huddlestone added: “Similar to Tim and Les, Chris just says it how it is.

“If they have got to be ruthless and brutally honest with someone then they will be. From training with him, I know some of his ideas are slightly different to your typical English coach or manager.

“The move could work both ways. He knows the players and their qualities and they know him rather than a new manager coming in. On the other hand, it’s his first management job so it could be a risk. Any appointment has got its risk factors.”