Bassett pulls out of QPR job race
Dave Bassett has revealed that he has withdrawn from the running for the vacant manager's job at Queens Park Rangers after holding talks with the club.
The former Wimbledon, Sheffield United and Barnsley boss believes the move to Loftus Road would not be right for him.It leaves the field open to a supposed short-list of Graham Rix, Iain Dowie, Steve Coppell, Steve Bruce and Ian Holloway to take up the post when Gerry Francis steps aside after tomorrow's game at Gillingham.
Whoever does succeed Francis will find a troubled club only just outside the First Division relegation zone, with financial problems and question marks over the future as owner Chris Wright is also stepping down.
Bassett told internet site planetfootball.com: "I met with the directors last Tuesday and had a convivial meeting.
"But the talks were inconclusive and I've thought about the decision since and decided to withdraw from the position."I spoke to the club about a number of things, including the financial situation, and I just thought it was in my interest to leave it at present.
"I thought that I would be fair to the club and tell them early so they can get on with speaking to other candidates."
Former Tottenham boss Francis has decided to move out of the managerial seat but will be staying on at QPR in an advisory role until the end of the season.
"Gerry's a good friend of mine and he phoned me to tell me about the possibility of the job there, but we didn't talk about the job itself and it didn't affect my decision," added Bassett.
"I'm my own man just as Gerry's his own man."
