QPR make Hart their new manager

Paul Hart was named as the new manager of Championship side Queen’s Park Rangers on Thursday, less than 24 hours after predecessor Jim Magilton controversially parted company with the club.

Hart, 56, returns to management less than a month after being axed by Premier League strugglers Portsmouth and will be assisted by former Luton boss Mick Harford, who had a spell as caretaker manager at QPR in 2007.

Magilton and his assistant, John Gorman, left the west London club “by mutual consent” on Wednesday evening, a week after the manager was suspended for allegedly head-butting one of his players.

Magilton had denied the allegation that he had assaulted Hungarian midfielder Akos Buzsaky in the wake of a 3-1 defeat at Watford, and vowed to clear his name and return to work.

Former Leeds boss Hart becomes the sixth fifth permanent manager to work under chairman Flavio Briatore in the two years since the controversial Formula One figure took over at QPR.

Hart takes charge with the club 12th in the Championship table but only three points off the promotion play-off places.